# Authentication

Concept · [Technical basics](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/technical)

Also called: auth, login, log in, sign in, sign-in, authorization, user accounts, password

Checking that a person is who they say they are, usually with a login. A closely related step, authorization, decides what that person is allowed to see and do.

**For example:** Without authentication, anyone who guesses the [web address](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/domain) of your customer list can read it. With it, only people who log in with the right account can.

## Connects to (12)

- [Back end](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/back-end): The part of an app that runs out of sight on a server.
- [Database](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/database): Organized storage for your app's information, such as users, orders and messages, so it can be saved and looked up later.
- [API key](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/api-key): A secret code that identifies your app to another service so that service will answer its API requests.
- [SSO](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/sso): Single sign-on.
- [Multi-factor authentication](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/mfa): A sign-in that asks for more than one kind of proof, drawn from something a person knows, something a person has and something a person is.
- [No-code](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/no-code): Tools that let you build an app or site by arranging visual blocks or describing what you want, instead of writing code.
- [Supabase](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/supabase): An open source back end platform built on the Postgres database.
- [Access control](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/access-control): Rules about who can see or change what in a system.
- [Role-based access control](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/role-based-access-control): A way of managing access where permissions are given to roles, such as admin, editor or viewer, and each person is assigned a role.
- [Sign in with ChatGPT](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/sign-in-with-chatgpt): A way for other apps and websites to let people log in with their ChatGPT account.
- [Firebase](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/firebase): Google's platform for building app back ends, with a database, login, file storage and hosting as managed services.
- [Twilio](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/twilio): A cloud service developers use to send and receive text messages, phone calls and email from their apps through an API.

Map view: https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/authentication