<strong>Authentication</strong> is proving who you are (like showing your ID), while <strong>Authorization</strong> is determining what you're allowed to do (like having a VIP pass). They work together but serve different purposes.
The Airport Security Analogy
At the airport, you show your ID to prove who you are (authentication). Then your boarding pass determines if you can access first class or economy (authorization).
Ticket (Authentication)
Proves you're a passenger
Security Check
Verifies identity
Boarding Pass (Authorization)
Determines your seat class
Provides Credentials
Verifies Identity
Grants Permissions
User provides credentials
Username and password submitted
Authentication verifies
System checks if credentials are valid
User is authenticated
System knows WHO you are
Authorization checks permissions
System checks WHAT you can access
Access granted or denied
Based on your role and permissions
Wrong
"Authentication and authorization are the same thing"
Correct
<strong>Authentication</strong> answers 'Who are you?' while <strong>Authorization</strong> answers 'What can you do?'. You can be authenticated but not authorized for certain actions.
In a company system:
Authentication: You log in with your employee ID and password
Authorization: Your role (admin, manager, employee) determines access
Admin can delete users, manager can approve requests, employee can only view
You're authenticated as 'John', but authorized only for employee-level actions