Java Glossary : Authentication

Authentication is the process of ensuring to some in order to access computer services, or that the provider of the service is actually who it claims to be

Java Glossary : Authentication

Java Glossary : Authentication

     

Authentication is the process of ensuring to some in order to access computer services, or that the provider of the service is actually who it claims to be. This types of services works on shared secrets like password or private key. Some schemes does not want to exchange actual secrets but only proves that other end knows the secret. E.g. Encryption of a random message with a private key.  A web authentication where a web page includes a dialog box having user name and password and other information required for certification where the browser presents an X.509 certificate to the server to request access, and digest authorization where the password is digested before being sent to the server to avoid it being snooped on.

While talking about J2EE platform, it  requires three types of authentication: basic, form based, and mutual authentication.