ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Central Authentication Service

Central authentication service (CAS) is like a super important secret password keeper that helps you log into lots of different websites and apps without having to remember and type in different passwords for each one. Imagine your mommy and daddy give you a special book where you can write down all your secret passwords for your toys, games, and online school portals.

When you want to play with a new toy, you can just look up the password in your book and type it in. You save time and trouble, and you feel happy because you can quickly access your toys without losing any precious playing time. Isn't that nice?

Now, think of CAS as a very big and very secure book that computers use to store and share your passwords across different websites and apps. Lots of important people trust CAS because it keeps your passwords safe, so you don't have to worry about hackers stealing them or naughty people snooping around your private stuff.

Whenever you want to log in to a new website, your computer checks with CAS first to see if you are authorized to enter. CAS then checks your secret password in its big book, and if everything matches up, it tells the website that you are a nice and trustworthy person who deserves to see and use its content.

This whole process happens in just a few seconds or less, thanks to the magic of computers and the superhero powers of CAS. So, every time you see an option to use CAS to log into a website or app, just remember that it's like having a big helper who makes your life easier and more secure. Hooray for CAS!