Oauth

Building Scalable APIs: Design, Security, and Performance A scalable API is built to handle growing traffic without breaking or slowing down. It lives in a world of users, devices, and services that demand fast, reliable responses. The core ideas are simple: design resources clearly, protect them well, and optimize how often data is moved and processed. Design for Scale Start with stateless services. Each request should carry enough context so any server can handle it. Use consistent, resource-oriented URLs and predictable responses. Plan for pagination and filtering on list endpoints to avoid returning huge payloads at once. Version APIs early and keep backward compatibility to prevent breaking clients during updates. Idempotent operations help retries stay safe, while asynchronous tasks let the system absorb bursts of work without blocking. ...

JSON Web Tokens and OAuth in API Security JSON Web Tokens and OAuth are two common tools for protecting APIs. OAuth 2.0 provides a way to authorize access, while JWT is a compact token format that can carry identity and permission data. Used together, they help apps prove who they are and what they can do, without sending passwords on every request. In a typical setup, an OAuth 2.0 server issues an access token after the client proves its identity. That token is often a JWT, signed with a private key. The resource server can verify the signature with a public key and read the claims, such as the user id, the allowed scopes, and the token’s expiry. ...

Securing APIs: best practices and patterns APIs connect apps, services, and users. Security should be built in from the start, not added later. In this article you’ll find practical patterns you can apply today to protect your API surface. Clear policies, simple rules, and good tooling make a big difference for teams of any size. Authentication and authorization Choose OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect for most flows. Use short-lived access tokens and rotate them with refresh tokens. For public clients like mobile apps and single-page apps, add PKCE to prevent code interception. Define clear scopes and an audience so a token can only access what it should. ...

Designing Secure APIs for Modern Apps Designing secure APIs means protecting data as it travels and at rest. Modern apps—from mobile to web—rely on APIs that enforce identity, access, and integrity. Threats like token theft, misconfiguration, and overexposed data are common if teams rush builds. A clear, repeatable approach helps product teams ship confidently while keeping users safe. Principles for secure APIs Use authenticated access with tokens from OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect. Issue short-lived access tokens and rotate refresh tokens. Apply least privilege with scopes and fine-grained permissions. Validate all inputs and enforce strict schemas. Encrypt data in transit with TLS 1.2+ and consider mTLS for internal calls. Log and monitor access while avoiding sensitive data in logs. Design errors to avoid leaking internal details. Practical steps for teams Choose a robust API gateway or service mesh to centralize security. Implement rate limiting, quotas, and burst controls. Use TLS everywhere; verify certificates and pin where feasible. Verify tokens with signature checks or token introspection. Rotate keys and secrets; store them in a secure vault. Automate security tests in CI/CD and include contract testing. Educate developers with secure defaults and runbooks. A simple example Example: a mobile app calls a user profile API. The app first obtains an access token via OAuth 2.0, then sends it in the Authorization header. The API verifies the token, checks the scope for ‘user.profile’, and returns only non-sensitive fields. If a token is missing or expired, the API responds with a clear 401 error without exposing internal details. ...

API Security: Protecting Access to Your Services APIs connect apps and services across teams and borders. If access isn’t well protected, data leaks and outages can follow. Good API security starts with two ideas: authentication (who is calling) and authorization (what they are allowed to do). Start with simple rules and grow them as your system scales. For small projects, an API key or a basic token may be enough. For larger systems, stronger methods are worth it. Use OAuth 2.0 for user and service access, and consider JWTs to carry useful claims. Mutual TLS (mTLS) helps verify both sides in service-to-service calls. Treat tokens like passwords and protect them in transit and at rest. ...

APIs and Middleware: Building Connected Applications APIs connect apps and teams. They expose data and services over standard protocols. Middleware sits between clients and services, handling tasks that would clutter the core business logic: security checks, data shaping, retry policies, and routing decisions. Together they enable connected applications that scale and adapt. In modern systems you may use REST or GraphQL for APIs. Middleware can live in an API gateway, a service mesh, or as a separate layer. It helps separate concerns: the API surface stays focused on business needs, while middleware handles cross-cutting work such as authentication, rate limiting, and data transformation. ...

Secure API Design: Authentication, Authorization, and Rate Limiting Designing secure APIs means more than just keeping data private. It requires clear rules about who can connect, what actions they can perform, and how fast they may request resources. A thoughtful design helps both developers and users by reducing surprises and errors. Authentication Authentication confirms identity. Modern APIs often use a mix of API keys, tokens, and standards like OAuth 2.0 with OpenID Connect. A recommended pattern is to issue short‑lived access tokens, validate them on every call, and use refresh tokens for long sessions. Always enforce TLS, validate the token signature, and check the intended audience and issuer. Store secrets securely, rotate keys regularly, and log failures for anomaly detection. Favor token-based flows over long‑lived credentials, and keep endpoints simple so clients know how to obtain and renew access. ...

Modern Web Security: Privacy, Auth, and Controls Security in today’s web apps rests on three pillars: privacy, authentication, and access controls. Teams aim to deliver useful features while respecting user rights. Clear defaults and simple choices help users feel safe and developers stay focused on core work. By treating these pillars as design constraints, you reduce risk without sacrificing speed. Privacy by design means collecting only what you need, storing it safely, and giving users real control over their data. Use strong encryption for data in transit and at rest, and publish a plain privacy notice. Practical steps include HTTPS everywhere, sensible data retention rules, and easy options to view, delete, or revoke consent. ...

APIs in Practice: Design, Security, and Governance APIs are the bridges that connect teams, systems, and devices. In practice, good design, strong security, and clear governance work together to keep services reliable, scalable, and safe. A well-thought API surface helps developers move quickly and users depend on consistent behavior. Design first, then build. Start with a small surface and explain the business purpose of each endpoint. Name the resources clearly and keep responses predictable. A stable contract matters: plan a simple versioning policy, communicate deprecation timelines, and keep backwards compatibility when possible. Good docs, examples, and error messages reduce guesswork for callers. ...

Secure API Design: Authentication, Authorization, and Rate Limiting APIs are the bridge between services and users. A secure design helps protect data, keep services reliable, and prevent abuse. This article explains three core parts: authentication, which proves who you are; authorization, which controls what you can do; and rate limiting, which guards against overload. Authentication Choose a strong method to verify identity. Common options: API keys for simple use, but tie them to limits and rotate them periodically. OAuth 2.0 for robust access with tokens and scopes. JWTs for stateless tokens that carry claims, with careful signing and expiration. Mutual TLS for high security between services. Practical tips: ...