Web APIs have become the backbone of modern applications, enabling everything from social media integrations to enterprise data exchanges. With this growing reliance on APIs, attackers constantly seek to exploit vulnerabilities and gain unauthorized access. This paper examines the essential role of authentication in securing web APIs. It discusses foundational security principles, popular authentication methods (such as OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, and JWT-based workflows), and the common pitfalls that lead to breaches. We also explore best practices and emerging trends like zero trust architecture and decentralized identity systems. Our goal is to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of web API authentication, enabling them to implement more robust security measures and anticipate future developments.
Web API, authentication, security, OAuth 2.0, JWT, zero trust architecture, decentralized identity
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