All APIs must use standardized authentication mechanisms including OAuth, JWT, and API keys with properly defined scopes, ensuring that security is consistently implemented and that consumers have a predictable experience when authenticating across all APIs.
API Authentication Is Standardized
Policies
Authentication
Authentication details should always travel with the API contract. I have seen too many situations where developers can find the docs but have no idea how to actually authenticate. That information...
OAuth (Authentication)
OAuth is the standard I see most often when APIs need proper authorization flows. Having a clear policy around OAuth usage keeps the implementation consistent and reduces security surface area.
JWT (Authentication)
JWT is a common pattern I see across the API landscape for authentication. Having a policy around how JWTs are used keeps things consistent and prevents teams from rolling their own approach.
Keys (Authentication)
API keys are the most basic building block of API authentication. A policy here makes sure keys are handled consistently and not just thrown around without any standards in place.
Scopes (Authentication)
OAuth scopes are where the rubber meets the road on access control. Getting scopes right means consumers understand exactly what they are asking for and what they are getting.
OpenAPI Security
Security schemes in OpenAPI define how authentication works at the spec level. This is where API keys, OAuth, and other security patterns become part of the machine-readable contract.
Operation Security
Security definitions on operations make access requirements explicit. Every operation should clearly state what authentication and authorization is required to call it.
Getting Started Authentication
The getting started experience needs to cover authentication clearly. If a new consumer can not figure out how to authenticate quickly, you have already lost them.
Experiences
Security
Security is the area where I see the most gap between what teams think they have covered and what's actually happening. The surface area of APIs keeps growing, and most organizations aren't keeping...
Access
I keep seeing teams struggle with getting consumers proper access to their APIs. The sign-up, authentication, and authorization process is where you lose people before they ever make their first AP...
Onboarding
I see teams dealing with massive friction during onboarding. If a consumer can't get from zero to their first successful API call in minutes, you've already lost them. Getting started guides, sandb...
Consistency
When I look across the API landscape, consistency is one of the biggest challenges I see. Every team does things differently, and the surface area of inconsistency just grows until governance becom...
Trust
Trust is earned at the API level, and I see it broken constantly. When consumers don't trust that your API will be there tomorrow, behave the same way it did yesterday, and protect their data, they...