How can I secure my API with token authentication?

How can I secure my API with token authentication?

To secure your API with token authentication, you can use JSON Web Tokens (JWT). This involves generating a token when a user logs in and requiring that token for subsequent requests.

What are the steps to implement JWT in my application?

First, you'll need to install a JWT library for your programming language. Then, create a login endpoint that generates a token upon successful authentication. Finally, protect your API routes by verifying the token in the request headers.

Are there any security best practices I should follow?

Yes, ensure that you use HTTPS to encrypt data in transit, set a short expiration time for tokens, and implement token revocation mechanisms.

Can you give me an example of generating a token?

Sure! In Node.js, you can use the 'jsonwebtoken' library. Here's a simple example: const token = jwt.sign({ userId: user.id }, 'your_secret_key', { expiresIn: '1h' });.