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Web Authentication API vs OpenID Connect

Developers should use the Web Authentication API to implement strong, phishing-resistant authentication for web applications, particularly in security-sensitive domains like finance, healthcare, or enterprise systems meets developers should learn and use openid connect when building applications that require secure user authentication and identity verification, such as enterprise sso systems, consumer-facing apps with social login, or any service needing to integrate with identity providers like google, microsoft, or okta. Here's our take.

🧊Nice Pick

Web Authentication API

Developers should use the Web Authentication API to implement strong, phishing-resistant authentication for web applications, particularly in security-sensitive domains like finance, healthcare, or enterprise systems

Web Authentication API

Nice Pick

Developers should use the Web Authentication API to implement strong, phishing-resistant authentication for web applications, particularly in security-sensitive domains like finance, healthcare, or enterprise systems

Pros

  • +It's ideal for reducing reliance on passwords, which are prone to breaches, and for complying with security standards that require multi-factor authentication
  • +Related to: public-key-cryptography, biometric-authentication

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

OpenID Connect

Developers should learn and use OpenID Connect when building applications that require secure user authentication and identity verification, such as enterprise SSO systems, consumer-facing apps with social login, or any service needing to integrate with identity providers like Google, Microsoft, or Okta

Pros

  • +It simplifies authentication flows by standardizing token-based identity verification, reducing the need for custom authentication code and enhancing security through built-in features like token validation and user consent management
  • +Related to: oauth-2.0, json-web-tokens

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Web Authentication API is a platform while OpenID Connect is a protocol. We picked Web Authentication API based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

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The Bottom Line
Web Authentication API wins

Based on overall popularity. Web Authentication API is more widely used, but OpenID Connect excels in its own space.

Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev