# Authenticator (Catalina Internal API Documentation)
Keywords: org.apache.catalina.Authenticator interface

## org.apache.catalina
Interface Authenticator

All Known Implementing Classes:
  AuthenticatorBase

public interface Authenticator

An Authenticator is a component (usually a Valve or Container) that provides some sort of authentication service. The interface itself has no functional significance, but is used as a tagging mechanism so that other components can detect the presence (via an "instanceof Authenticator" test) of an already configured authentication service.

Version:
  $Revision: 466595 $ $Date: 2006-10-21 18:24:41 -0400 (Sat, 21 Oct 2006) $
Author:
  Craig R. McClanahan

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