An Authorization Code is a temporary code used in the OAuth 2.0 authentication framework. It is generated by an authorization server when a user successfully logs in and grants permission to an application to access their data. This code is then sent to the application, which can exchange it for an access token to make authorized API requests. The use of an authorization code enhances security by ensuring that sensitive information, like user credentials, is not shared directly with the application. Instead, the application only receives the authorization code, which is short-lived and can only be used once, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access.