What is the difference between authentication and authorization?

• A. Authentication determines who you are; authorization determines what rights you have.
• B. Authentication uses tokens; authorization uses passwords.
• C. Authentication is done by the server; authorization is done by the client.
• D. Authentication is always required; authorization is optional.

Answer: (A)

The distinction between authentication and authorization is fundamental in security and access control within software systems. Authentication is the process that verifies the identity of a user or system, essentially determining who the user is. This can involve various methods such as passwords, biometrics, or multi-factor authentication.

On the other hand, authorization takes place after authentication and determines what resources and actions the authenticated user is permitted to access or perform. In other words, once a user is confirmed to be who they claim to be, the system then checks what permissions or rights that user has in relation to the resources or functionalities of the system.

This understanding highlights how authentication and authorization work in tandem but serve distinct purposes: one provides identity verification, while the other establishes access control based on that verified identity.