OAuth
Also: OAuth 2.0
A standard way to let one app use another on your behalf without giving it your password.
The fuller definition
OAuth is an authorization framework that lets applications obtain limited access to resources through access tokens rather than receiving the user's password for that resource service.
- User grant
Approve a scope
- Token
Limited delegated access
- Resource
Check the token
A simplified relationship, not a screenshot or a complete design.
A concrete example
A user grants an application permission to read selected calendar information through a supported authorization flow.
The distinction that matters
OAuth alone is not an identity protocol; OpenID Connect adds an identity layer in common sign-in systems.
Related terms
Where it is taught
APIs and JSON: connect a model to a small programSource and further reading
IETF · OAuth 2.0The definition and example are written for this library. The link gives background, official documentation or legal authority as labelled. Legal scope depends on the jurisdiction and current text; product features depend on release and settings.