HTTP-BASIC Authentication Protocol

HTTP-BASIC authentication exchanges information, in text-based data format, consisting of the user’s name and password. Under the HTTP-BASIC protocol, the client receives an authentication error when it attempts to open a title. Microsoft® Windows® Media Player responds by displaying a user name and password dialog box. The server retrieves the user name and password (client credentials), and passes them to the authenticator as a base 64 encoded string. The authenticator then checks the string against the user account database, and notifies the server of the results. If the user account is in a different domain than the server, the user name must be in the form of domain\username.

The HTTP-BASIC authentication protocol is ideal for Internet applications. It is also easily adaptable for use with custom-built or pre-existing user account databases. Authenticators can be designed to receive the client credentials and compare the password against any name space.