Session-Based Authentication
Session-based authentication is a server-side stateful authentication mechanism where the server creates and stores a session for each authenticated user, typically using a session ID stored in a cookie on the client side. Upon login, the server generates a unique session identifier, stores session data (like user info) server-side, and sends the session ID to the client, which includes it in subsequent requests to maintain authentication state. This approach relies on server-managed sessions to track user identity across multiple HTTP requests.
Developers should use session-based authentication when building traditional web applications that require server-side state management, such as e-commerce sites, content management systems, or any application where user sessions need to be securely maintained with server control. It is particularly useful in scenarios involving sensitive operations, as it allows for easy session invalidation and centralized security management, though it can introduce scalability challenges due to server-side storage overhead.