Federated Identity
Federated Identity is a system that allows users to access multiple applications or services across different domains using a single set of credentials, managed by a trusted identity provider. It enables seamless authentication and authorization without requiring separate logins for each service, often implemented through standards like SAML, OAuth, or OpenID Connect. This concept is foundational for Single Sign-On (SSO) and identity management in distributed systems.
Developers should learn Federated Identity when building applications that need to integrate with external services, support enterprise SSO, or manage user identities across platforms, such as in cloud-based SaaS products or multi-tenant architectures. It enhances security by centralizing authentication, reduces password fatigue for users, and simplifies compliance with regulations like GDPR by delegating identity management to specialized providers.