Introduction
You’re building an API. Your frontend needs to authenticate users, and you’re staring at three options: Basic Auth, Bearer Tokens, and JWTs. Pick the wrong one and you’ll either overengineer your simple app or create a security nightmare in production.
This comprehensive guide will show you exactly how each authentication method works, when to use them, and the critical security mistakes that can cost you. Whether you’re building your first API or optimizing an existing system, understanding these fundamentals will help you make informed architectural decisions.