Answer
Authentication verifies identity, while Authorization determines access rights. ASP.NET Core uses modular auth handlers and policy-based authorization for flexible security design.
Quick Answer
Authentication identifies who the user is — reads the cookie or JWT, validates it, and populates HttpContext.User with claims. Authorization decides what they can do — reads HttpContext.User's claims/roles against [Authorize] policies and requirements. Auth must always complete before authorization runs. A user can be authenticated but not authorized for a specific resource.
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SugharaIQ Editorial Team
Verified Answer
This answer has been peer-reviewed by industry experts holding senior engineering roles to ensure technical accuracy and relevance for modern interview standards.
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Source: SugharaIQ