Secure API Design: Authentication, Authorization, and Rate Limiting
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: ...