Based on the OpenID Connect specification, authentication can follow any of the following flows, and the selected flow determines how the id token and access token should return to the client:
- Authorization code flow: This returns an authorization code via the front channel, and requires client authentication using client ID and client secret so that the token endpoint can issue the access token via the back channel.
- Implicit flow: This generates requested tokens at the authorization endpoint, and does not require the client secret for client authentication. This flow happens via the front channel
- Hybrid flow: This is a combination of basic flow and implicit flow, which allows you to request a combination of code, identity token, and access token via the front channel. This flow can obtain authorization codes and tokens from the authorization endpoint, and can also request tokens from the token endpoint.
WSO2 Identity Server supports all the above OpenID Connect authentication flows, and the response_type value specified in an authorization request is what determines the authentication flow to be used.
The following table describes the flow that gets selected depending on the response_type value you specify:
Specified response_type | Flow |
|---|---|
code | Authorization code flow |
id_token | Implicit flow |
id_token token | Implicit flow |
code token | Hybrid flow |
| Hybrid flow |
code id_token token | Hybrid flow |
See the following topics for more information on each of the OpenID Connect flows for authentication:
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