.NET Architecture & System Design Interview Question #163

What is OAuth 2.0 used for?

Security Architecture, Multi-Tenancy & Disaster Recovery Senior Advanced

Quick Interview Answer

OAuth 2.0 is an authorization framework that allows clients to obtain limited access to protected resources. It defines roles and flows for issuing and using access tokens.

Detailed Explanation

OAuth 2.0 is an authorization framework that allows clients to obtain limited access to protected resources. It defines roles and flows for issuing and using access tokens.

OAuth is not by itself a user-authentication protocol. OpenID Connect adds an identity layer for authentication scenarios. Modern applications should use well-established libraries and identity providers rather than implementing OAuth flows manually.

Code Example

Client
   |
Authorization Server
   |
Access Token
   |
Resource API