How does the OAuth framework function in REST API access?

OAuth (Open Authorization) is an open standard for access delegation, commonly used to grant websites or applications access to information on other websites without giving them the user's password. It works by providing the external application a token, rather than the user's actual credentials. This token is a temporary credential that authorizes specific access to the user's resources for a limited time. This method enhances security by preventing the external application from ever seeing or storing the user's password. Incorrect options: Hashing or hiding security information in the URL is not the primary function of OAuth; it focuses on delegated authorization through tokens. OAuth explicitly avoids providing user credentials (like username and password) directly to the external application to improve security.