Description: Open Authorization is a protocol that allows third-party services to exchange information without sharing passwords. This approach is based on access delegation, where a user can grant an application or service permission to access their data on another platform without revealing their credentials. This is achieved through access tokens, which are generated by the service containing the data and allow the third-party application to perform specific actions on behalf of the user. Open Authorization has become a standard in identity and access management, facilitating application integration and enhancing security by reducing the risk of password exposure. Additionally, this protocol allows users to have greater control over their data, as they can revoke access at any time, contributing to a safer and more personalized experience in the use of digital services.
History: Open Authorization, commonly known as OAuth, was developed in 2006 by a group of engineers from Twitter, Google, and others, with the aim of allowing users to share information securely between different services without compromising their passwords. The first version, OAuth 1.0, was released in 2007, and since then it has evolved through several versions, with OAuth 2.0 being the most widely used today, released in 2012. This evolution has been driven by the growing need for security in identity management and access to data in an increasingly interconnected digital environment.
Uses: Open Authorization is primarily used in web and mobile applications to allow users to log into third-party services using their credentials from a different platform, such as Google or Facebook. This simplifies the login process and enhances security by preventing users from having to remember multiple passwords. Additionally, it is used in APIs to allow external applications to access data in a controlled manner, which is essential for service integration and the creation of digital ecosystems.
Examples: A practical example of Open Authorization is when a user uses their Google account to log into a third-party application, such as a task management service. By doing so, the application can access the user’s information without the user having to share their Google password. Another example is the use of OAuth on platforms like GitHub, where developers can allow external applications to access their code repositories without revealing their GitHub credentials.
