What best describes an AWS IAM role?

An AWS IAM role is best described as an identity used for granting temporary permissions. This is primarily because roles are designed to be assumed by trusted entities such as users, applications, or AWS services, allowing them to temporarily inherit and utilize permissions that are defined by policies attached to that role.

This temporary nature of roles is a key feature, enabling the application of the principle of least privilege. When a role is assumed, a session is created, granting the entitlements defined in the role's policy for a limited time, which enhances security by reducing the chance of misused permanent credentials.

Roles are distinct from user accounts because they do not have long-term credentials associated with them, and they can be assumed by various entities as needed. This makes roles particularly useful in scenarios involving AWS services, cross-account access, or temporary permissions for users. Overall, this flexibility and the focus on temporary permissions are what accurately characterizes an IAM role in the AWS environment.