The text discusses two authentication protocols: OpenID Connect (OIDC) and Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML). Both protocols are used to determine the identity of an entity before granting access, but they differ in their approach and implementation. OIDC is an open authentication protocol built on top of OAuth 2.0, which delegates authentication to identity providers like Google and FusionAuth. It uses tokens known as JSON Web Tokens (JWTs) for authentication and supports single sign-on (SSO). SAML, on the other hand, is a more established protocol that uses XML data format for transferring messages between applications for authentication via different bindings. While OIDC is considered more developer-friendly and easier to implement, SAML offers flexibility but can be complex and difficult to manage. Both protocols have their trade-offs in terms of platform support, response format, complexity, implementation, security, and use cases. Ultimately, the choice between OIDC and SAML depends on the specific needs and requirements of an application or organization.