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JSON Web Token (JWT)

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May 11, 2024 3 minute read
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JSON Web Token, or JWT, is a JSON-based open standard for representing claims securely between two parties, known as the issuer and the subject, as a JSON object. Tokens can be used in various scenarios, such as authentication, authorization, information exchange, or any other scenario that requires proof of a claim made about a subject.

Origins and Structure

JWTs were initially proposed in 2015 and are defined in RFC 7519. A JWT consists of three parts, separated by periods:

  1. Header: The header contains metadata about the token, including the token's type and the signing algorithm used.
  2. Payload: The payload contains the claims about the subject, such as the user's name, email address, or other information.
  3. Signature: The signature is created using the header and payload, along with a secret key known only to the issuer, using the signing algorithm specified in the header.

Working of JWT

Path to JSON Web Token (JWT)

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Reading list

We've selected four books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in JSON Web Token (JWT).
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API Design Patterns
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A more in-depth book on JWTs that covers advanced topics such as using JWTs with different programming languages and integrating JWTs with other security technologies.
API Design Patterns
Paperback
$$$
API Design Patterns
Kindle Edition
$$
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Real-Time Web Application Development Using Vert. X...
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A comprehensive tutorial on JWTs that covers the basics, including the structure of JWTs, how to create and verify them, and how to use them in applications.
Real-time Web Application Development With Vert.x
Paperback
$$
RESTful Web APIs
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A book on securing web APIs with JWTs that covers topics such as creating and verifying JWTs, and using JWTs with different programming languages.
RESTful Web APIs
Paperback
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RESTful Web APIs
Kindle Edition
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Learning GraphQL
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A book on building APIs with Node.js and MongoDB that includes a chapter on securing APIs with JWTs.
Learning GraphQL
Paperback
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Learning GraphQL
Kindle Edition
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Relevant careers
Software Engineer
Web Developer
Security Engineer
Information Security Analyst
Identity and Access Management Engineer
Data Analyst
Systems Engineer
Cloud Architect
Network Engineer
DevOps Engineer
Related topics
OAuth
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
RESTful API
Web Security
HTTP
Microservices
Blockchain
Cryptography
Digital Signature
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