What Is the Difference Between Authentication and Authorization in Web Development

In the world of web development, security is one of the most critical concerns. To build a secure application, it is essential to have an in-depth understanding of two fundamental processes: authentication and authorization. Although some developers use these terms interchangeably, they are, in fact, very different and serve distinct purposes.

What is Authentication?

It occurs by entering information such as username and password into the system and checks whether this information matches the ones registered in the system. Users gain access to the system when verification is successful. However, authentication only determines who the user is, not what the user can do. Password-based authentication is the most common method by entering a username and password. Additionally, two-factor authentication (2FA) increases security by using an authentication factor (for example, SMS code) in addition to the password. Biometric authentication is done using biometric data such as fingerprints and facial recognition and is a strong verification method. Additionally, protocols such as OAuth are used for third-party applications to authenticate users.

What is Authorization?

Authorization is the process of determining what resources and processes a user can access once they gain access to the system. It works based on roles and permissions and users are assigned to a specific role. This role determines the resources the user can access and the actions they can perform. The Role-based Access Control (RBAC) method assigns users to specific roles and defines the permissions of these roles. Attribute-based Access Control (ABAC) method makes access decisions based on users’ characteristics and provides more flexible and detailed access control. Policy-based Access Control (PBAC) method makes access decisions based on policies and is useful in large and complex systems.

Differences Between Authentication and Authorization

Understanding the differences between authentication and authorization is critical to creating a secure and effective system. Authentication verifies who the user is, while authorization determines what the user can do. Authentication occurs when the user logs into the system, while authorization is applied continuously after the user logs into the system. While authentication uses credentials such as username, password, biometric data, authorization uses role and permission information. In terms of security approaches, authentication uses methods such as two-factor authentication and encryption, while authorization uses role-based access control and policies.

Conclusion

Authentication and authorization are the cornerstones of web security. Authentication verifies a user’s identity, while authorization determines what that user can do. Properly understanding and implementing both processes ensures a more secure and user-friendly web experience.