PAM

PAM, or Pluggable Authentication Modules, is a flexible framework used in computer systems to manage user authentication. It allows administrators to choose and configure different methods (like passwords, fingerprint scans, or security tokens) for verifying user identities without changing the underlying system code. Essentially, PAM acts as a common interface, enabling various authentication techniques to work seamlessly together, simplifying security management across applications and services. This modular approach enhances security, consistency, and ease of maintenance in managing user access.