API Security: A Deep Dive into Authentication and Authorization

API security is crucial for safeguarding the sensitive data and resources accessed via APIs. Two key aspects of API security are authentication and authorization. Authentication ensures that users are who they say they are, while authorization determines what actions they are allowed to perform. This guide delves into various authentication methods such as JWT (JSON Web Tokens), OAuth, and OpenID Connect. It also covers best practices for securing APIs, such as encrypting data, validating inputs, and using HTTPS, to help developers protect their APIs from unauthorized access.