What is the difference between API Key and OAuth?

What is the difference between API Key and OAuth?

API Key can be an easy way to enforce some authentication. OAuth is more sophisticated with more options but also needs more knowledge to get implemented correctly, not only on the client but also on the server-side.

What is the difference between API Key and API token?

The main distinction between these two is: API keys identify the calling project — the application or site — making the call to an API. Authentication tokens identify a user — the person — that is using the app or site.

What’s the difference between API keys and OAuth?

In this article, we’ll compare three different ways to achieve this: API Keys, HTTP Basic Authentication, and OAuth. We’ll also highlight what the benefits and drawbacks are for each method. Using API keys is a way to authenticate an application accessing the API, without referencing an actual user.

How does OAuth 2.0 support server to server interactions?

The Google OAuth 2.0 system supports server-to-server interactions such as those between a web application and a Google service. For this scenario you need a service account, which is an account that belongs to your application instead of to an individual end user.

Can you use the same API key for multiple applications?

API keys can also be used somewhat universally, with the same key being used across multiple applications. There are a number of reasons why you should never do that, however, and more experienced web application developers can use simple practices and REST API security guidelines to bypass these concerns.

How is the API key sent between APIs?

How the key is sent differs between APIs. Some APIs use query parameters, some use the Authorize header, some use the body parameters, and so on. For instance, Google Cloud accepts the API key with a query parameter like this: It’s relatively easy for clients to use API keys.