Do you know Authentication & Authorization in Web Development?

When developing a website, a web designer may come across the terms “authentication” and “authorization” a lot. Some web developer in India uses these words interchangeably. They are not interchangeable and in web development you should be able to know the meaning of these two terms.

What is Authentication?

Authentication is the process where you confirm your identity. This can be a typical login system that you use in your site. When developing a website a web developer encrypt the site such that when you try to login, the website will compare you username and password to the information it has. If they match then the login completes as the website has confirmed your identity. If you type a wrong credential and try login in the computer will trigger a response that prevents you from accessing the website. If you continue attempting the login using the wrong data, the website may even lock as a security mechanism to protect your privacy.

Authentication is a procedure that is used in a developing a website that can be accessed by many people. It is also evident in many applications. Third-party web APIs, networking systems and servers, and several external systems use authentication to verify who is accessing a system. During website development makes sure you create an authentication procedure to improve security on your website.

What is Authorization?

Authorization is verifying that users can only perform as many actions as you want them to perform and no more. This can be restriction of someone from viewing someone private information, and from doing an administrative work. The authorization process in other words is what you are allowed to do when you are done with authentication procedure.

During website development come up with servers that control permissions that is should allow users to access information, but users can’t change a server’s settings. Authorization increases with level and role of website development where certain ecommerce website has restricted level of authorization.

 In conclusion

When developing a website you should know the security differences that exist between authentication and authorization.  Many programmers become mixed up with these terms.  With the above definition of terms hope you will be able to distinguish them as you can be asked to implement roles and permissions at some point during web development. You also need to work with these two processes when you integrate third-party applications.