HTTP

Tag

Authentication

Understand HTTP authentication challenges, credentials, authorization headers, cookies, and the status codes used in access-control flows. This curated hub brings together 11 related resources.

Comparisons

401 vs 403: Authentication vs Authorization

Understand the difference between 401 Unauthorized and 403 Forbidden. Learn when each status code applies, common mistakes, and how to use them correctly in APIs.

HTTP Headers

Authentication-Info Header

Learn how Authentication-Info provides additional authentication data in responses to successful requests. Covers digest authentication and session info.

HTTP Headers

Authorization Header: HTTP Authentication

Learn how the Authorization header works, different authentication schemes (Bearer, Basic, API keys), and security best practices.

Comparisons

Cookie-Based vs Session-Based Authentication

Compare cookie-based and session-based authentication. Understand where state lives, security tradeoffs, scalability implications, and when to use each approach.

Comparisons

CORS vs CSP

Understand the difference between CORS and Content Security Policy. Both are browser security mechanisms but they protect against completely different threats.

HTTP Status Codes

HTTP 401 Unauthorized: Authentication Required

Learn what 401 Unauthorized means, why it happens, and how to fix authentication errors. Complete guide with examples for APIs and web applications.

Guides

HTTP Authentication Methods and Best Practices

A comprehensive guide to HTTP authentication methods including Basic Auth, Bearer tokens, API keys, and OAuth 2.0.

Guides

HTTP Sessions and State Management Explained

Learn how to manage user state and sessions in stateless HTTP applications using cookies, tokens, and server-side storage.

HTTP Headers

Proxy-Authenticate Header

Learn how the Proxy-Authenticate header challenges clients for credentials when accessing resources through a proxy. Understand proxy authentication schemes.

HTTP Headers

Proxy-Authorization Header

Learn how Proxy-Authorization provides credentials to access resources through a proxy server. Understand proxy authentication schemes and security.

HTTP Headers

WWW-Authenticate

Learn how the WWW-Authenticate header specifies authentication methods required to access protected resources. Understand Basic, Bearer, and Digest schemes.