How does JWT work for API authentication?

How does JWT work for API authentication?

JWT, or JSON Web Token, is a compact, URL-safe means of representing claims to be transferred between two parties. It allows you to verify the authenticity of the data and the identity of the user.

What are the main components of a JWT?

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

How do I implement JWT in my API?

To implement JWT, you need to create a token when a user logs in, sign it with a secret key, and send it back to the user. The user then includes this token in the Authorization header of subsequent requests.

What are the benefits of using JWT?

JWTs are stateless, meaning they don't require server-side sessions, which makes them scalable. They also allow for easy cross-domain authentication.