JSON Web Tokens (JWT) are a widely used security token format for stateless authentication. They are compact, URL-safe, and can be signed to prevent tampering. Below are some common use cases for JWTs:

  • Single Sign-On (SSO): JWTs can be used to implement SSO across multiple applications. When a user logs in to one application, a JWT is issued and can be used to authenticate the user in other applications without the need for them to log in again.

  • API Authentication: JWTs are often used for securing APIs. They can be included in the header of API requests to authenticate the user and authorize access to the requested resources.

  • Stateless Authentication: Since JWTs are self-contained, they enable stateless authentication. This means that the server does not need to store any session information, which can improve scalability and reduce the risk of session hijacking.

  • User Identification: JWTs can be used to store user information, such as username, role, and permissions. This information can be used by the server to identify the user and determine what actions they are allowed to perform.

  • Device Authentication: JWTs can be used to authenticate devices, not just users. This is useful for IoT devices or any other kind of device that needs to communicate securely with a server.

For more information on JWT use cases, you can read our detailed guide on JWT Authentication.

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Here are some examples of JWT use cases in different scenarios:

  • JWT in SSO:
    SSO with JWT
  • JWT in API Authentication:
    API Authentication with JWT
  • JWT in Stateless Authentication:
    Stateless Authentication with JWT
  • JWT for User Identification:
    User Identification with JWT
  • JWT for Device Authentication:
    Device Authentication with JWT