SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language)

An XML-based open standard for exchanging authentication and authorization data between an Identity Provider (IdP) and a Service Provider (SP). The IdP authenticates the user and issues a signed XML assertion; the SP validates the assertion and grants access without handling passwords directly. SAML 2.0 is the dominant standard for enterprise single sign-on and federation, particularly in legacy corporate environments where OIDC has not yet replaced it.