SASL
SASL (Simple Authentication and Security Layer) is a framework for authentication and data security in network protocols, providing a method to add authentication support to connection-based protocols. It allows applications to negotiate and use various authentication mechanisms, such as PLAIN, DIGEST-MD5, or GSSAPI, without requiring changes to the protocol itself. SASL is commonly used in email (SMTP, IMAP), messaging (XMPP), and directory services (LDAP) to secure communications.
Developers should learn SASL when implementing secure authentication in network applications, especially for protocols like SMTP, IMAP, or LDAP that require robust user verification. It is essential for building systems that need to support multiple authentication methods or integrate with existing security infrastructures, such as Kerberos or OAuth. Using SASL ensures standardized, flexible authentication that enhances security without protocol redesign.