REST API Authentication Methods

Securing a REST API is crucial for data protection. Here are common authentication methods:

1. **Basic Authentication**: Simple, but less secure. Example: Sending base64 encoded credentials.

2. **API Key**: A unique key for each user. Example: Include the key in the request header.

3. **OAuth**: A robust method allowing third-party access. Example: Using OAuth 2.0 for user authorization.

4. **JWT (JSON Web Token)**: Compact and secure. Example: Encoding user information in a token.

5. **Digest Authentication**: More secure than basic. Example: Hashing the credentials with a nonce.

6. **Session-Based Authentication**: Uses server-side sessions. Example: Storing user sessions in a database.

7. **HMAC (Hash-Based Message Authentication Code)**: Verifies the message integrity. Example: Using HMAC to sign requests.

Choosing the right method depends on the application requirements and security needs.