JWT (JSON Web Token) is a compact, URL-safe means of representing claims to be transferred between two parties. It's an open standard for securely transmitting information as JSON objects, commonly used for authentication and authorization in web applications and APIs.
What is JWT?
JWT (JSON Web Token) is a compact, URL-safe means of representing claims to be transferred between two parties. It's an open standard for securely transmitting information as JSON objects. JWTs are commonly used for authentication and authorization in web applications and APIs.
What JWT Does
JWTs provide a way to securely transmit information between parties as a JSON object. They are digitally signed, which means they can be verified and trusted. JWTs are self-contained, meaning they carry all the necessary information about the user or entity.
How JWT Works
A JWT consists of three parts separated by dots:
1. Header: Contains the type of token and the signing algorithm
2. Payload: Contains the claims (user data, permissions, etc.)
3. Signature: Verifies the token hasn't been tampered with
Common Uses
JWTs are used in many applications:
Why It Matters
JWTs are important because they:
Best Practices
When using JWTs:
JWT has become a fundamental technology for modern web authentication and authorization, providing a secure and efficient way to handle user sessions and API access.