How are "Scopes" used in OAuth?

Scopes in OAuth play a crucial role in defining the specific level of access that an application is requesting from the resource owner (the user) on behalf of the client application. When an application initiates an OAuth flow, it can request certain scopes that determine what actions it can perform and what data it can access.

For example, an application might request scopes that allow it to read user profile data, send messages on behalf of the user, or access social media feeds. By specifying scopes, OAuth helps to limit the permissions granted to an application, ensuring that users maintain control over their information and that applications only have access to what they need to function properly.

This granularity of access is particularly important for ensuring security and privacy, as it allows users to grant limited permissions rather than full access to their accounts. Therefore, the clarity and control provided by scopes are fundamental to the OAuth authorization framework.