org.apache.jackrabbit.core.security.authentication
Interface Authentication

public interface Authentication

The Authentication interface defines methods to validate Credentials upon authentication. The validation dependants on the authentication mechanism used, i.e.

• comparison of UserID/password pair retrieved from the given Credentials with Credentials stored for a particular user,
• bind to a LDAP with a given ID,
• validation of a SSO ticket.

Method Summary

boolean	authenticate(Credentials credentials) True if the Credentials identify the User related to this Authentication.
boolean	canHandle(Credentials credentials) An Authentication may only be able to handle certain types of Credentials as the authentication process is tightly coupled to the semantics of the Credentials.

Method Detail

canHandle

boolean canHandle(Credentials credentials)

An Authentication may only be able to handle certain types of Credentials as the authentication process is tightly coupled to the semantics of the Credentials. E.g.: A ticket based Authentication is dependant on a Credentials implementation which allows access to this ticket.

Parameters:

credentials - in questions

Returns:

true if the current Authentication handles the given Credentials

authenticate

boolean authenticate(Credentials credentials)
                     throws RepositoryException

True if the Credentials identify the User related to this Authentication.

Parameters:

credentials - to verify

Returns:

true if Credentials identify the User.

Throws:

RepositoryException - If an error occurs.