• Authentication: Verifies who you are using credentials like usernames, passwords, or biometrics. It's the first step in security.
• Authorization: Determines what you can access based on roles, permissions, or policies. It happens after authentication.

Real-World Analogy (Authentication vs Authorization)

• Authentication: Showing your ID at the entrance to prove who you are.
• Authorization: Being granted access to specific areas of a building based on your role (e.g., employee vs. visitor) Both processes are critical for securing systems and are often used together to ensure robust security.

Comparison and Contrast: Authorization vs. Authentication

Aspect	Authentication	Authorization
Definition	Verifies the identity of a user.	Determines what actions or resources a user is allowed to access.
Purpose	Ensures the user is who they claim to be.	Grants or denies permission to resources based on policies or roles.
Process	Involves validating credentials like passwords, biometrics, or tokens.	Involves checking permissions against roles, policies, or rules.
Focus	Answers "Who are you?"	Answers "What can you do?"
Data Used	User credentials (username, password, etc.).	User roles, permissions, access control lists (ACLs).
When It Happens	The first step in security; occurs before authorization.	Happens after authentication to enforce access controls.
Example	Logging in with a username and password.	Allowing access to a specific file, feature, or API endpoint.
Technology Examples	OAuth, OpenID Connect, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).	Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Access Control Lists (ACLs).

Key Differences:

1. Order of Operation: Authentication happens before authorization. You must verify identity before deciding permissions.
2. Identity vs. Access: Authentication is about proving identity, while authorization is about granting or denying access to resources.
3. Use Cases: Authentication handles who gets in, while authorization handles what they can do once inside.