✅ 𝟰 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 .𝗡𝗘𝗧 𝗔𝗣𝗜 🔐

Understanding the difference between 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (verifying identity) and 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (determining access) is key. Here’s a quick guide to four common methods for securing your .NET API:

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🚀 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

🔹 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Confirms who you are (typically via username and password).
🔹 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Defines what an authenticated user can do.

1️⃣ 𝗝𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗲𝗯 𝗧𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻𝘀 (𝗝𝗪𝗧)

𝗝𝗪𝗧 is a widely-used open standard (RFC 7519) for securely transmitting data in JSON format between two parties:
🔸 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄: Client logs in, receives a 𝗝𝗪𝗧, then sends it with each request.
🔸 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗿: Distributed systems where trust is required between parties.

2️⃣ 𝗢𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝟮.𝟬

OAuth 2.0 is a protocol allowing applications to access resources on behalf of a user without exposing their credentials. OAuth 2.0 is the industry standard for secure, delegated access:
🔸 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀: Resource Owner, Client, Authorization Server, and Resource Server.
🔸 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗿: Apps needing secure third-party access or 𝗠𝟮𝗠 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

3️⃣ 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Basic Authentication is a straightforward method, but it lacks the flexibility and security of more advanced techniques. Credentials (username and password) are encoded in Base64 and sent with each request.
🔸 𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Always use 𝗛𝗧𝗧𝗣𝗦, as it’s less secure.
🔸 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗿: Simple, internal apps with minimal security needs.

4️⃣ 𝗔𝗣𝗜 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

𝗔𝗣𝗜 𝗞𝗲𝘆 Authorization involves issuing a unique key to clients, which is included in each request. 𝗔𝗣𝗜 𝗸𝗲𝘆𝘀 are simple and offer flexibility but do not validate user identity.
🔸 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗜𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀: Server issues a unique 𝗔𝗣𝗜 𝗸𝗲𝘆, which is validated with each request.
🔸 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗿: Basic API access without needing complex identity management.

🎯 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀:
🔹 𝗝𝗪𝗧: Scalable, stateless security.
🔹 𝗢𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝟮.𝟬: Secure delegated access.
🔹 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵: Simple, minimal security.
🔹 𝗔𝗣𝗜 𝗞𝗲𝘆: Flexible and easy for basic scenarios.

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