Apple opens access to Safari login data to third-party apps

Apple gives developers access to credentials stored in Safari. These can be used in apps to automatically fill in the login details. That should ensure that logging in to apps is speeded up.

The new feature was discovered by 9 To 5 Mac. In iOS 8, users can autofill application login information based on saved login information in Safari. This allows users to log in to apps with the push of a button, as is also possible in the browser.

To enable autofill, developers must link their website and app. This link information must be processed in both the app and the website so that Safari knows that a link exists, according to 9 To 5 Mac. If the user then saves his login details for a website in Safari, the browser knows that these must also be filled in automatically in the corresponding app.

If the user has not saved login details in the browser, this can still be done from an app. In addition, applications are also given the option to adjust the saved login data, for example if the user has changed his password.

Apple announced iOS 8 at its WWDC developer conference, including a health app, a revamped notification center and an API for home automation. A feature that has recently revealed details is a trick to prevent corporate Wi-Fi tracking. The iOS 8 software will be released for iOS devices later this year.