A space that only permits one user to enter at a time, requiring authentication to access the inner area is called what?

The term that accurately describes a space allowing only one user to enter at a time and requiring authentication is known as a mantrap. A mantrap is specifically designed to enhance security by preventing unauthorized access. It operates through a physical barrier, typically involving two doors that cannot be opened simultaneously. When an individual enters the first door, it locks behind them, requiring them to authenticate before the second door opens.

This design effectively limits the number of people who can access a secure area at once, thereby reducing the risk of tailgating—where an unauthorized individual tries to gain entry alongside an authorized user. By ensuring that only one person is inside the mantrap at any time, this security measure reinforces controlled access to sensitive areas, such as data centers or high-security facilities.

In contrast, while an access control room and a security booth may involve some aspects of monitoring and controlling access, they do not necessarily restrict entry to one individual at a time in the same way a mantrap does. An entryway portal might refer to a general area with access points but does not imply the strict entry control that is characteristic of a mantrap.