JWTs: Just What are They?

JWT stands for JSON Web Token, a hash included in the header of a request to replace older authentication styles. JWTs aim to address concerns of security, scope, and portability by providing a standardized way to store information about an identity in the form of a token. The token is structured with a header containing information about its creation, such as the algorithm used and the type of token, and a payload containing key-value pairs that contain claims about the user, including their source, unique identifier, expiry date, and issuance time. JWTs are useful for authentication because they can be customized to include relevant information for an application, allowing for more secure and flexible authentication methods. The process of generating a valid JWT involves using a PHP library, such as the Vonage JWT creator, and includes obtaining an application ID and private key from the dashboard, creating a token generator with these credentials, and then generating the token itself.