16.2.6. Java Authentication and Authorization Service (JAAS)

Java Authentication and Authorization Service (JAAS) is a security API which consists of a set of Java packages designed for user authentication and authorization. The API is a Java implementation of the standard Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM) framework. It extends the Java Enterprise Edition access control architecture to support user-based authorization.

In JBoss EAP 6, JAAS only provides declarative role-based security. For more information about declarative security, refer to Section 16.1.4, “About Declarative Security”.

JAAS is independent of any underlying authentication technologies, such as Kerberos or LDAP. You can change your underlying security structure without changing your application. You only need to change the JAAS configuration.