title: What is exactly RelayState parameter used in SSO (Ex. SAML)?
body: <p>I am trying to understand SSO using SAML. I have come across the RelayState parameter and am very confused exactly why it comes first in SSO to send encoded URLs? What exactly does it mean?</p>
  
  <p>Please read the following from <a href="https://developers.google.com/google-apps/sso/saml_reference_implementation" rel="noreferrer">the Google Developer documentation</a>:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Google generates a SAML authentication request. The SAML request is encoded and embedded into the URL for the partner's SSO service. The RelayState parameter containing the encoded URL of the Google application that the user is trying to reach is also embedded in the SSO URL. This RelayState parameter is meant to be an opaque identifier that is passed back without any modification or inspection</p>
  </blockquote>