What is HTTP Basic Authentication?

HTTP Basic Authentication is a simple method for enforcing access control to web resources. In this method, the client (such as a browser or application) sends the user's credentials (username and password) encoded in Base64 as part of the HTTP request header. While the credentials are not encrypted, they are encoded, making them slightly obscured but still vulnerable if intercepted over an insecure connection.

Basic Authentication, due to its transmission of credentials in a format that can be easily decoded, is secure only when used in conjunction with HTTPS. HTTPS encrypts the entire connection between the client and server, thereby preventing eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks. Without this encryption, Basic Authentication is susceptible to these security risks.

Due to its simplicity, Basic Authentication is commonly used in web services, APIs, and applications. Still, its security limitations make it less suitable for highly sensitive environments unless paired with strong encryption (e.g., HTTPS).