HMAC vs Digital Signatures

Developers should learn HMAC when building secure applications that require message authentication, such as in API authentication (e meets developers should learn digital signatures when building systems requiring data integrity, non-repudiation, or authentication, such as in secure apis, blockchain transactions, or document signing applications. Here's our take.

HMAC

Nice Pick

Developers should learn HMAC when building secure applications that require message authentication, such as in API authentication (e

Pros

• g
• Related to: cryptography, api-authentication

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Digital Signatures

Developers should learn digital signatures when building systems requiring data integrity, non-repudiation, or authentication, such as in secure APIs, blockchain transactions, or document signing applications

Pros

• They are essential for compliance with security standards like GDPR or HIPAA, and for implementing features like code signing in software releases to prevent malware distribution
• Related to: public-key-infrastructure, cryptography

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use HMAC if: You want g and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Digital Signatures if: You prioritize they are essential for compliance with security standards like gdpr or hipaa, and for implementing features like code signing in software releases to prevent malware distribution over what HMAC offers.

The Bottom Line

HMAC wins

Developers should learn HMAC when building secure applications that require message authentication, such as in API authentication (e