OAuth vs. OAuth 2: Differences + What you need to know

OAuth and OAuth 2.0 are protocols that allow one application to access another application's data on behalf of a user. The main differences between the two versions include simplified security measures, short-lived tokens, more authorization flows for different types of apps, and changes in how tokens are issued and managed. OAuth 2.0 is a complete overhaul of the original OAuth 1.0 specification, offering improved security and flexibility. It supports six authorization flows (grant types) tailored to various applications such as web, mobile, desktop, and devices without browser support. The most commonly used flow is the Authorization Code Flow, which involves obtaining an access token from the authorization server after successful user authentication and authorization. OAuth 2.0 has become quite popular, with many benefits over OAuth 1.0, including better security and compatibility with various identity providers.