What does "authorization" mean in programming?

authorization is one of the most common terms in software development. This guide explains what it means, how it is used in practice, and why it matters, with real examples from the developer world.

Definition

The process of determining whether an authenticated user has permission to perform a specific action. Authorization answers 'What are you allowed to do?' and comes after authentication.

Example

"The authorization check prevents regular users from accessing the admin panel."

Word forms

Form	Type	Meaning	Example
authorize	verb (infinitive)	To grant or verify permission for a specific action	"The middleware will authorize the request based on the user's role."
authorized	past tense / adjective	Having permission to perform an action	"Only admin users are authorized to delete accounts."

Related terms

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