What are JSON Web Tokens and how do they work?

What are JSON Web Tokens and how do they work?

JSON Web Tokens (JWT) are a compact, URL-safe means of representing claims to be transferred between two parties. They are used for authentication and information exchange.

Can you explain the structure of a JWT?

A JWT consists of three parts: a header, a payload, and a signature. The header typically consists of the type of token and the signing algorithm. The payload contains the claims, and the signature is used to verify the sender.

How do I use JWT for user authentication?

To use JWT for authentication, you generate a token upon user login, which the client stores. For subsequent requests, the client sends the token in the Authorization header, allowing the server to verify the user's identity.

What are the advantages of using JWT?

JWTs are stateless, meaning they don't require server-side sessions, making them scalable. They are also compact and can be easily transmitted in URLs, headers, or cookies.