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Atlas · Foundations oauth-scope

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  • security
  • web

Oauth Scope

Provider-defined access labels that an OAuth client can request; the authorization server decides the actual grant.

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    Beginner field notes

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    • A scope is an access label defined by the OAuth provider. Read the provider’s explanation of what that permission allows.
    • An app requests scopes; the authorization server decides what access to grant. Requested permissions are not proof of granted permissions.
    • A label such as notes:read means only what its provider defines. Another provider can use different labels or meanings.
    See a worked example

    Compare requested and granted scopes

    One reviewed sample, shared across levels. Nothing here runs on your computer.

    Example review recorded 2026-10-20 · version 1.

    Example input · do not paste
    Fictional Notes API vocabulary:
notes.read = read notes
notes.write = change notes
App task: display an existing note.
Requested scope: notes.read notes.write
Granted access-token scope: notes.read
Try A: display the note.
Try B: change its title.
    Example output · do not paste
    A: the required notes.read scope is present.
B: notes.write was not granted, so this scope check fails.
The request asked for a write permission the stated viewing task does not need.

    Use the scope actually granted, not merely the scope the app requested. OAuth scope strings are defined by the authorization server; notes.read and notes.write are invented names for this case. A server may grant less access than requested and must report a different granted scope in its response. Review whether the extra permission is needed before consenting. This example models only scope matching: real authorization also validates the token and access to the particular resource. No token or live API request is shown.

    Sources for this sample

    Visual

    An illustrative client requests read and write scopes, but the authorization server grants only read. The resource server checks access requirements. A human consent screen is not asserted as a universal step.

    The reviewed description and complete diagram source are available here.

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    sequenceDiagram
  participant C as Example client
  participant S as Authorization server
  participant R as Resource server
  C->>S: Request notes:read and notes:write
  Note over S: Apply the grant policy
  S-->>C: Token and actual grant: notes:read
  C->>R: Request a protected operation
  Note over R: Validate access against requirements
    Primary sources

    Source collection

    Notes AI source review · 2026-10-17

    The summary, key points and diagram were independently compared with primary documentation using AI on 2026-10-07. The approval is bound to this written content. It does not approve a video or timestamp window. Human learner validation is pending.

    Quick quiz · one question

    Inspect requested access, then use the actual grant

    Sample scenario. Fictional notes API and user review step. The provider defines these exact scope meanings; some OAuth flows have no human consent screen. The issued token is otherwise valid and grants only notes:read. No real authorization is performed.

    Stated task
    View existing notes only; do not create or change notes. Supplied required scopes: notes:read.
    This provider's meanings
    notes:read: read existing notes; notes:write: create or change notes
    Requested scopes
    notes:read, notes:write
    Granted scopes
    notes:read
    GET /notes
    Requires: notes:read
    POST /notes
    Requires: notes:write

    For the stated view-only task, why inspect the requested permissions, and which request passes the issued grant?

    Answers stay on this device.

    Sources and exercise scope
    • RFC 6749, section 3.3: Access Token Scope

      Scope strings are case-sensitive and server-defined; the granted scope may differ from the requested scope.

    • RFC 6749, section 4.4: Client Credentials Grant

      The approved lesson uses client credentials as a counterexample to claiming every OAuth grant has an interactive human consent step. The view-only task and provider-specific scope meanings are explicit fictional facts, not universal scope names.

    Original synthetic exercise. AI comparison against the reviewed lesson recorded on 2026-10-20; the references above state their scope. Human learner validation has not been run. A result here records this attempt; it does not establish mastery.

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    Reference notes · file removal and public access

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    Understand what can change

    These reviewed public notes are available to everyone. They do not establish that an operation ran or inspect your files, backups or permissions.

    File removal

    Before deleting files: deleting a file can remove it without putting it in Trash or a recycle bin, and recovery is not guaranteed. Check the intended targets and whether a usable backup or recovery option exists before continuing.

    Sources for this note

    Public access

    Before making a resource public: public read access can let anyone view the exposed content, and public write access can allow changes to data. Check the actual audience, exposed content and allowed operations before continuing. This guidance does not inspect or change your permissions.

    Sources for this note

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