Discretionary Access Control
Discretionary Access Control (DAC) is a security model where access to resources is determined by the resource owner or user, typically through permissions like read, write, and execute. It allows owners to grant or restrict access to files, directories, or other objects based on user identities or group memberships. This model is commonly implemented in operating systems like Unix/Linux and Windows to manage file and folder security.
Developers should learn DAC when building or securing applications that require fine-grained user-level access control, such as file-sharing systems, multi-user platforms, or enterprise software. It is essential for implementing security policies where resource owners need flexibility to manage permissions, but it may not be suitable for highly regulated environments where mandatory access control is required for stricter enforcement.