Are there different authentication methods in an API?
💡 Model Answer
Yes, APIs can support multiple authentication mechanisms to secure access. Common methods include Basic Authentication (username/password sent in headers), API keys (unique tokens passed in headers or query parameters), OAuth 2.0 (delegated authorization with access and refresh tokens), JWT (JSON Web Tokens for stateless auth), and mutual TLS (client certificates). The choice depends on security requirements, client capabilities, and scalability. For example, a public REST API might use API keys for simplicity, while a corporate service that requires fine-grained permissions would use OAuth 2.0 with scopes.
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