What authentication methods do you know and can you describe their features?

Main authentication methods:

1. Password-based authentication

   • User enters login and password.
   • Simple and common method.
   • Disadvantage: vulnerable to interception and password guessing.

2. Token-based authentication

   • After login, the user receives a token (e.g., JWT).
   • The token is used for subsequent requests.
   • Convenient for REST APIs and distributed systems.

3. Two-factor authentication (2FA)

   • Combination of password and second factor (SMS, app-generated codes).
   • Increases security.

4. Certificate-based authentication

   • Uses digital certificates to verify identity.
   • Often used in corporate networks.

5. OAuth / OpenID Connect

   • Protocols for authorization and authentication via third-party services (Google, Facebook).
   • Allow users to log in without creating a separate account.

6. Biometric authentication

   • Use of fingerprint recognition, face recognition.
   • Requires specialized hardware.

In Python, libraries such as django.contrib.auth for Django or flask-login for Flask are often used to implement authentication, supporting various methods.