Last updated: April 12, 2026
CORS vs CSP — Browser Security Policies Explained in 2026
Quick Answer
CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) controls which domains can make requests to your API. CSP (Content Security Policy) controls which resources a page can load (scripts, styles, images). CORS protects your API; CSP protects your users. You need both.
CORS vs CSP — Side by Side
| Feature | CORS | CSP |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Controls who can access your API | Controls what resources your page loads |
| Protects Against | Unauthorized cross-origin requests | XSS, data injection, clickjacking |
| Configuration | Access-Control-Allow-Origin headers | Content-Security-Policy header |
| Scope | Server-side (API responses) | Client-side (page resource loading) |
| Default | Same-origin only (restrictive) | No restrictions (must opt-in) |
| Report Mode | No | Yes — Content-Security-Policy-Report-Only |
Verdict
Implement both. CORS on your API to control cross-origin access. CSP on your web pages to prevent XSS and unauthorized resource loading. They solve different security problems and are complementary.
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