---
title: "Authentication Flows"
description: "Learn how to implement authentication flows in your Python application using Stack Auth's REST API"
---
This section covers the core authentication patterns and flows you'll need to implement secure authentication in your Python application using Stack Auth's REST API.

## Core Authentication

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card 
    title="API Setup & Configuration"
    href="./authentication/api-setup"
    icon="settings"
  >
    Set up your Python client and configure API credentials for Stack Auth integration.
  </Card>
  
  <Card 
    title="User Sessions"
    href="./user-sessions"
    icon="user-check"
  >
    Handle user session management, validation, and lifecycle in Python applications.
  </Card>
  
  <Card 
    title="OAuth Flows"
    href="./oauth-flows"
    icon="link"
  >
    Implement OAuth authentication flows for social login providers via the REST API.
  </Card>
  
  <Card 
    title="Server Validation"
    href="./server-validation"
    icon="shield-check"
  >
    Validate user tokens and authenticate requests on your Python backend.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Authentication Patterns

Each authentication flow addresses specific use cases:

- **API Setup**: Foundation for all authentication operations
- **User Sessions**: Managing authenticated user state and session lifecycle  
- **OAuth Flows**: Social login integration (Google, GitHub, etc.)
- **Server Validation**: Securing your API endpoints and validating requests

## Getting Started

Start with [API Setup & Configuration](./api-setup) to establish your Python client, then proceed to the specific authentication flow that matches your application's needs.

For framework-specific integration examples, see the [Framework Integration](../integration) section.