What is OAuth 2.0?

OAuth 2.0 is an authorization framework that enables applications to access a user's data on another service without needing the user's password, using short-lived tokens with specific permissions. It is widely used in scenarios like third-party integrations, account connection flows, and machine-to-machine access while ensuring security through scoped, time-limited tokens. OAuth 2.0 is not meant for authentication, which requires OpenID Connect. Key flows include Authorization Code with PKCE for user logins, Client Credentials for service-to-service access, Device Code for constrained devices, and Refresh Token for maintaining long-term access. Despite its utility, OAuth 2.0 can be complex to implement correctly, with pitfalls such as insecure token storage and over-broad scopes. OAuth 2.1, still a draft, incorporates modern best practices and simplifies implementation. Providers like WorkOS offer managed solutions to streamline OAuth integration by handling complexities and ensuring secure, scalable implementations, thus allowing developers to focus on product development rather than protocol intricacies.