What aspect of Identity Management does OpenID Connect facilitate?

OpenID Connect is an authentication layer built on top of the OAuth 2.0 protocol. It focuses primarily on user identity verification by allowing clients to verify the identity of end-users based on the authentication performed by an authorization server. When a user logs in, OpenID Connect provides a standardized way to retrieve user information via an ID token, which carries essential claims about the user. This process enables applications to authenticate users without having to manage user credentials directly, enhancing security and simplifying the user experience.

The functions and benefits of OpenID Connect in relation to user identity verification include ensuring that applications can trust the identities presented to them, reducing the need for password storage and management in applications, and facilitating single sign-on capabilities across multiple applications, thereby improving user convenience and security.