OAuth – The Big Picture

OAuth – The Big Picture is a concise and accessible guide to understanding OAuth, the popular authentication and authorization framework used by many web applications and APIs. Written by Aaron Parecki, the book takes a high-level view of OAuth, explaining its key concepts and how it works in practice.

The book begins by introducing the problem that OAuth solves: how to allow users to grant access to their data to third-party applications without sharing their login credentials. It then explains the key concepts of OAuth, including access tokens, scopes, and authorization servers.

From there, the book covers the OAuth 2.0 specification, which is the most widely used version of OAuth. It explains the OAuth 2.0 grant types, which define how access tokens are obtained, and the OAuth 2.0 scopes, which define the permissions granted by access tokens. The book also covers the use of refresh tokens, which allow applications to obtain new access tokens without prompting the user for permission again.

One of the key strengths of OAuth – The Big Picture is its focus on practical examples and use cases. The book provides examples of how OAuth is used in real-world applications, such as logging in with Facebook or Google, and how it can be used to secure APIs.

Throughout the book, Parecki provides clear explanations and examples, making it easy to understand even the most complex concepts. He also includes tips for implementing OAuth securely and best practices for working with OAuth in real-world scenarios.

Whether you’re a developer just getting started with OAuth or an experienced engineer looking to deepen your understanding, OAuth – The Big Picture is an excellent resource. With its clear explanations and practical examples, this book is sure to help you become a more effective and efficient developer.