Federated identity is a system where users can access multiple applications with a single set of credentials, kind of like using your Google account to log into a bunch of random websites. It's a way to make life easier for users while still keeping things secure, assuming you trust the identity provider (and let's face it, we all trust Big Tech with our lives at this point).

How to use it in a sentence

• "I was going to create a new account for this app, but then I saw it supports federated identity through Google, so I just clicked that and boom, I'm in. One less password to remember!"

• "Our company is implementing federated identity to streamline access to our internal tools. It's like Single Sign-On, but fancier and more buzzwordy."

If you actually want to learn more...

• Exploring Mastodon: Martin Fowler dives into the world of Mastodon, a decentralized social media platform that uses federated identity. He shares his experiences navigating this new landscape and the challenges of understanding its federated nature.

• Data Mesh Principles and Logical Architecture: In this article, Martin Fowler explains how federated identity plays a role in data mesh architecture, enabling interoperability between independent data products through a governance model called federated computational governance.

• How to Move Beyond a Monolithic Data Lake to a Distributed Data Mesh: Fowler discusses the importance of federated identity in a decentralized data architecture, highlighting how it contributes to making data products addressable, trustworthy, and secure.

Note: the Developer Dictionary is in Beta. Please direct feedback to skye@statsig.com.