Authorization through access control in GraphQL

Authorization in web applications involves granting users access to specific resources and is distinct from authentication, which verifies user identity. In GraphQL, access control should be implemented in the business logic layer to maintain a single source of truth, allowing flexible integration with various endpoints like REST. The article discusses popular access control policies like Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC), with ABAC offering finer-grained control. It highlights the importance of decoupling access control logic from the GraphQL layer to accommodate policy changes without extensive codebase updates. Techniques such as using directives and access control lists (ACLs) are suggested for dynamically managing permissions. The article also emphasizes the need for both authentication and authorization in GraphQL, and suggests tools like LogRocket for monitoring and debugging GraphQL requests in production environments.