OAuth
OAuth is an open-standard authorization framework that enables third-party applications to obtain limited access to a user's resources on a service without exposing their credentials. It allows users to grant access to their data on one site (like Google or Facebook) to another application, using access tokens instead of passwords. This framework is widely used for secure API authorization and delegated access in web, mobile, and desktop applications.
Developers should learn OAuth when building applications that need to integrate with external services (e.g., social logins, accessing cloud APIs) to enhance security by avoiding password sharing and simplifying user authentication flows. It's essential for scenarios like single sign-on (SSO), allowing users to log in with existing accounts from providers like Google or GitHub, and for securing API calls in microservices architectures where delegated permissions are required.