--- title: "API Security & Authentication: Protecting Your APIs" lang: "en" author: "Mohammad Abu Mattar" canonical: https://mkabumattar.com/post/api-security-authentication-quiz --- [Home](/)›[Quizzes](/quizzes)›[All Categories](/quizzes/categories)›[API Security](/quizzes/categories/api-security) Quizzes [API Security](/quizzes/categories/api-security)[Security](/quizzes/categories/security)[Quizzes](/quizzes/categories/quizzes) # API Security & Authentication: Protecting Your APIs [Mohammad Abu Mattar](/authors/mohammad-abu-mattar)20 QuestionsIntermediatePublished: 01 Mar 2026 [Markdown for AI(opens in a new tab)](/post/api-security-authentication-quiz/index.md "Open the plain-Markdown version of this page, for pasting into an AI tool") Series [APIs & Advanced Architecture](/series/apis--advanced-architecture)2/4 [PreviousGraphQL Fundamentals: Queries, Mutations & Schema Design](/quizzes/post/graphql-fundamentals-quiz)[NextAdvanced API Architecture & Design Patterns](/quizzes/post/advanced-api-architecture-quiz) All posts in this series (4) Quizzes4 1. [GraphQL Fundamentals: Queries, Mutations & Schema Design](/quizzes/post/graphql-fundamentals-quiz) 2. [API Security & Authentication: Protecting Your APIsYou are here](/quizzes/post/api-security-authentication-quiz) 3. [Advanced API Architecture & Design Patterns](/quizzes/post/advanced-api-architecture-quiz) 4. [System Design & Architecture: Scalability & Resilience](/quizzes/post/system-design-architecture-quiz) ## API Security & Authentication: Protecting Your APIs Up to 20 questions, shuffled on every run Quiz Configuration Enterto start Welcome to the API Security & Authentication Quiz! This quiz will test your knowledge of key concepts and best practices for securing APIs. Each question is designed to challenge your understanding of authentication, authorization, OAuth2, JWT, API keys, HTTPS, CORS, rate limiting, and common vulnerabilities. Good luck! Answer key and explanations20 questions The quiz above draws 20 questions at random from these 30, so a second attempt will not be the same run. Everything in the pool is listed here. 1. What is the difference between authentication and authorization? AnswerAuthentication verifies user identity; authorization manages user permissions 2. What is OAuth2? AnswerAn authorization framework for delegating access to third-party applications 3. What is a JWT (JSON Web Token)? AnswerA stateless, self-contained token used to securely transmit encoded data 4. What are the three parts of a JWT? AnswerHeader (algorithm), Payload (claims), and Signature (verification) 5. What is an API key, and when should it be used? AnswerA simple identifier for public access, basic usage, and rate limiting 6. What is HTTPS, and why is it critical for APIs? AnswerA secure transport protocol using TLS to prevent data interception 7. What is CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) in APIs? AnswerA mechanism that uses HTTP headers to allow cross-domain resource access 8. What is rate limiting in API security? AnswerRestricting the number of requests a user can make in a specific timeframe 9. What is a brute force attack on APIs? AnswerAttempting to guess credentials by trying many combinations in rapid succession 10. What is injection attack vulnerability? AnswerInserting malicious commands through input fields to execute unauthorized code 11. What is XSS (Cross-Site Scripting)? AnswerExecuting malicious scripts in the browser of users viewing a web page 12. What is CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery)? AnswerForcing an authenticated user to execute unwanted actions on a trusted site 13. What is the principle of least privilege in API security? AnswerProviding users only the minimum access levels required to perform their jobs 14. What is a refresh token, and why is it used? AnswerA long-lived token used to obtain new access tokens without re-authenticating 15. What is two-factor authentication (2FA)? AnswerRequiring two independent forms of evidence to verify a user identity 16. What is token expiration, and why is it important? AnswerLimiting the valid lifetime of a token to reduce the risk of misuse 17. What is the difference between session-based and token-based authentication? AnswerSessions store state on the server; tokens are stateless and self-contained 18. What is a salt in password hashing? AnswerUnique random data added to a password before hashing to prevent collisions 19. What is the purpose of Content Security Policy (CSP)? AnswerAn HTTP header that restricts the sources from which scripts can load 20. What is API versioning, and how does it relate to security? AnswerManaging API updates to fix security flaws without breaking existing clients 21. What is API authentication vs. authorization in microservices? AnswerServices verify each other identities and then check specific access rights 22. What is the responsibility of the API provider vs. client in security? AnswerProviders secure the infrastructure; clients secure their tokens and requests 23. What is API key rotation, and why is it important? AnswerPeriodically replacing API keys to minimize damage if a key is leaked 24. What is secrets management in API authentication? AnswerUsing specialized tools to securely store and inject API credentials 25. What is mutual TLS (mTLS) authentication? AnswerA process where both the client and server verify each other certificates 26. What is the difference between public and private APIs? AnswerPublic APIs are open to external users; private APIs are internal only 27. What is webhook security? AnswerVerifying the authenticity of incoming callbacks using signatures 28. What are GraphQL-specific security concerns? AnswerRisks involving recursive queries, introspection, and field permissions 29. What is the importance of logging and monitoring API security? AnswerDetecting patterns of abuse, failed logins, and unauthorized access 30. What is API documentation and security? AnswerClearly explaining security requirements without leaking internal details ## Tags [#Api security](/quizzes/tags/api-security)[#Api security fundamentals](/quizzes/tags/api-security-fundamentals)[#Authentication](/quizzes/tags/authentication)[#Authorization](/quizzes/tags/authorization)[#Oauth2](/quizzes/tags/oauth2)[#Jwt](/quizzes/tags/jwt)[#Api keys](/quizzes/tags/api-keys)[#Https encryption](/quizzes/tags/https-encryption)[#Rate limiting](/quizzes/tags/rate-limiting)[#Cors](/quizzes/tags/cors)[#Password security](/quizzes/tags/password-security)[#Vulnerability management](/quizzes/tags/vulnerability-management)[#Security best practices](/quizzes/tags/security-best-practices)[#Backend security](/quizzes/tags/backend-security) ## Share [Facebook](https://facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmkabumattar.com%2Fquizzes%2Fpost%2Fapi-security-authentication-quiz "Share on Facebook")[Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet/?text=API%20Security%20%26%20Authentication%3A%20Protecting%20Your%20APIs&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmkabumattar.com%2Fquizzes%2Fpost%2Fapi-security-authentication-quiz "Share on Twitter")[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmkabumattar.com%2Fquizzes%2Fpost%2Fapi-security-authentication-quiz&title=API%20Security%20%26%20Authentication%3A%20Protecting%20Your%20APIs&summary=Master%20API%20security%20fundamentals%3A%20authentication%2C%20authorization%2C%20OAuth2%2C%20JWT%2C%20API%20keys%2C%20HTTPS%2C%20rate%20limiting%2C%20CORS%2C%20and%20common%20vulnerabilities.%20Secure%20your%20APIs%20against%20attacks.&source=https://mkabumattar.com "Share on LinkedIn")[WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=API%20Security%20%26%20Authentication%3A%20Protecting%20Your%20APIs%20https%3A%2F%2Fmkabumattar.com%2Fquizzes%2Fpost%2Fapi-security-authentication-quiz "Share on WhatsApp")[Telegram](https://t.me/share/url?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmkabumattar.com%2Fquizzes%2Fpost%2Fapi-security-authentication-quiz&text=API%20Security%20%26%20Authentication%3A%20Protecting%20Your%20APIs "Share on Telegram")[Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmkabumattar.com%2Fquizzes%2Fpost%2Fapi-security-authentication-quiz&title=API%20Security%20%26%20Authentication%3A%20Protecting%20Your%20APIs "Share on Reddit")[Hacker News](http://news.ycombinator.com/submitlink?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmkabumattar.com%2Fquizzes%2Fpost%2Fapi-security-authentication-quiz&t=API%20Security%20%26%20Authentication%3A%20Protecting%20Your%20APIs "Share on Hacker News")[Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmkabumattar.com%2Fquizzes%2Fpost%2Fapi-security-authentication-quiz&media=&description=Master%20API%20security%20fundamentals%3A%20authentication%2C%20authorization%2C%20OAuth2%2C%20JWT%2C%20API%20keys%2C%20HTTPS%2C%20rate%20limiting%2C%20CORS%2C%20and%20common%20vulnerabilities.%20Secure%20your%20APIs%20against%20attacks. 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