OAuth 2.0
OAuth 2.0 is an authorization framework that enables third-party applications to obtain limited access to a user's resources on a service, without exposing the user's credentials. It provides a standardized way for users to grant permissions to applications, commonly used for API access in web, mobile, and desktop apps. The framework defines roles like resource owner, client, authorization server, and resource server to manage secure delegated access.
Developers should learn OAuth 2.0 when building applications that need to integrate with external services like Google, Facebook, or GitHub APIs, as it's the industry standard for secure authorization. It's essential for implementing features like social login, accessing user data from cloud platforms, or enabling third-party integrations without handling sensitive passwords directly. Use cases include single sign-on (SSO), mobile app authentication, and microservices security in distributed systems.