Patent ID: 8904510

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for authenticating a user of an automated testing tool when using the testing tool to test a web application at a web server, the computer implemented method comprising act of: instantiating an automated testing tool for testing a web application at a web server; registering at said web server a plurality of authentication modules, at least one of said authentication modules configured to obtain authentication tokens based on authenticating a request that includes formatting specific to said at least one authentication module; receiving at said web server a request that i) includes an authentication credential of a user of said automated testing tool and ii) is formatted in a way specific to said at least one authentication module; based on the request, the web server consulting said authentication modules registered at the web server until said at least one authentication module configured to obtain authentication tokens based on authenticating said request that is formatted in a way specific to said at least one authentication module is identified, and then passing at least a portion of said request, including the authentication credential, to the identified authentication module; said identified authentication module authenticating said request based on said authentication credential and obtaining an authentication token without establishing any authentication dialogue with said user of the automated testing tool from which said request was sent; and the web server returning the particular authentication token to said user of the automated testing tool to permit access to the web application for testing purposes.