Basic authentication
HTTP Basic authentication is an HTTP scheme that transmits a username and password in a Base64-encoded Authorization header, requiring external protection such as TLS for confidentiality.
Spring Security in Action, Second Edition
HTTP Basic authentication is an HTTP authentication scheme that transmits a username and password using an Authorization header value containing Base64-encoded credentials.
- How it is used
- Secures REST endpoints by requiring clients to send username-and-password credentials in each Basic-authenticated request.
- How deep it goes
- Explains the header format, Base64 limitation, Spring defaults, endpoint rules, HTTPS, realms, and custom 401 handling.
- Examples
- Demonstrates a protected /hello REST endpoint, curl credential forms, Base64 encoding, generated passwords, realms, and custom 401 headers.
- What you can do after
- Operate and configure Spring Security Basic authentication, test protected endpoints, require or permit access, and customize failed responses.
Read how Spring Security in Action, Second Edition explains basic authentication →
Acing the CCNA Exam: Volume 2 Advanced Networking and Security
Basic authentication is an HTTP authentication method that transmits a username and password in an HTTP header, typically encoded but not inherently encrypted.
- How it is used
- Authenticates REST API requests with a username and password carried in an HTTP header.
- How deep it goes
- Defines the request mechanism and security limitation, but stops short of implementation commands or protocol internals.
- Examples
- Uses API requests with HTTP-header credentials and HTTPS-protected transmission as concrete illustrations.
- What you can do after
- Apply it to authenticate REST API requests while protecting credentials with HTTPS.
Logs and Telemetry
Basic authentication is an HTTP authentication scheme that transmits a username and password in an encoded authorization header.
- How it is used
- Secures HTTP output destinations against unauthorized or unwanted event data.
- How deep it goes
- Explains plugin settings, header encoding, and HTTPS implications, but does not detail credential-management approaches.
- Examples
- Uses Fluent Bit, WireMock, an authentication configuration, and an observed Authorization header.
- What you can do after
- Operate Fluent Bit HTTP output with username-password authentication and verify the resulting authorization header.
Related concepts
- OAuthalternative to · OAuth is an authorization framework that enables a client to obtain limited, delegated access to protected resources without receiving the resource owner's credentials.
- bearer authenticationcontrasts with · Bearer authentication is an authentication scheme in which presenting a bearer token is sufficient to use the access or authorization granted by that token.
- password authenticationuses · Password authentication is an authentication method that verifies a claimed identity or access by checking a supplied secret password or passphrase.
- RESTused by · REST is an architectural style for distributed hypermedia systems that organizes interactions around resources and representations through constraints including a uniform interface, stateless communication, cacheability, and layered components.
- HTTPSuses · HTTPS is HTTP carried over TLS, which provides encryption and endpoint authentication for network communication.
- Actuator endpointconfigures · An Actuator endpoint is a Spring Boot Actuator management interface that exposes operational data or operations through supported communication mechanisms.
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