OAuth 2.0 vs API Keys

Developers should learn OAuth 2 meets developers should learn about api keys when building applications that integrate with third-party services like google maps, stripe, or twitter, as these often require api keys for access. Here's our take.

OAuth 2.0

Nice Pick

Developers should learn OAuth 2

Pros

• 0 when building applications that need to access user data from external services like Google, Facebook, or GitHub, as it provides a standardized and secure way to handle authorization without storing passwords
• Related to: openid-connect, jwt

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

API Keys

Developers should learn about API keys when building applications that integrate with third-party services like Google Maps, Stripe, or Twitter, as these often require API keys for access

Pros

• They are essential for implementing basic security and access control in APIs, helping prevent unauthorized use and enabling monitoring of API consumption
• Related to: authentication, authorization

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use OAuth 2.0 if: You want 0 when building applications that need to access user data from external services like google, facebook, or github, as it provides a standardized and secure way to handle authorization without storing passwords and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use API Keys if: You prioritize they are essential for implementing basic security and access control in apis, helping prevent unauthorized use and enabling monitoring of api consumption over what OAuth 2.0 offers.

The Bottom Line

OAuth 2.0 wins

Developers should learn OAuth 2