What is Federation?

In the context of computing and data management, federation refers to a system that connects distinct entities, often databases, identity providers, or services, allowing them to operate together in a coordinated manner while maintaining their autonomy. This enables sharing of data, resources, or identities across organizational boundaries or different systems. Federation is often used for Single Sign-On (SSO), where users can authenticate once and access multiple applications, and for data integration, where data from different sources can be combined and accessed as a unified view.