Authentication is the process of verifying a user's identity, typically through passwords, tokens, or biometrics before granting access to protected resources.
Why It Matters
Proper authentication protects sensitive data, prevents unauthorized access, and builds user trust—essential for any application handling personal information.
When to Use This
- User login with email and password
- Social login via Google or GitHub
- API access using tokens
- Multi-factor authentication for sensitive operations
Examples
- User registering and logging in with email and password
- Laravel Sanctum issuing tokens for mobile app access
- OAuth flow for GitHub login on third-party apps