1 Introduction

This document specifies the Authentication Web Service Protocol. This protocol enables a protocol client to determine which type of authentication is used by a website. In addition, if authentication requests for that site are redirected to an HTML form, then this protocol enables a protocol client and a protocol server to authenticate a user.

Sections 1.5, 1.8, 1.9, 2, and 3 of this specification are normative. All other sections and examples in this specification are informative.