In my understanding, when a client wants to communicate with a server, HTTPS can be used which involves SSL certificate. This is very secured channel where information is exchanged between client and server by means of a session key. The session key is symmetric which has been generated by means of asymmetric keys (public/private keys).
So I am wondering why there is a need to have JWT in place?
Answers
HTTPS, utilizing SSL/TLS certificates, indeed provides a secure channel for communication between a client and a server by encrypting the data in transit. However, HTTPS primarily focuses on securing the transport layer, ensuring that the data exchanged between the client and server remains confidential and cannot be tampered with by malicious actors while in transit.
JSON Web Tokens (JWT), on the other hand, serve a different purpose. They are used for authentication and authorization, which are crucial aspects of many web applications. Here's why JWT might be needed despite using HTTPS:
-
Statelessness: JWTs are stateless tokens, meaning they contain all the necessary information within the token itself. This eliminates the need to store session state on the server, making JWTs suitable for use in stateless architectures like RESTful APIs.
-
Scalability: Since JWTs are self-contained, they can be easily distributed and verified across different services without needing to check back with a centralized server for authentication on every request. This can improve the scalability of a system, as it reduces the load on the authentication server.
-
Decoupling of Services: In a microservices architecture, where different services handle different aspects of an application, JWTs allow for easy authentication and authorization across services without the need for shared sessions or centralized authentication mechanisms.
-
Custom Claims: JWTs can include custom claims, which provide additional information about the authenticated user or the authorization context. This flexibility allows developers to tailor JWTs to their specific application requirements.
-
Expiration and Revocation: JWTs can include expiration timestamps, allowing for automatic session expiration without the need for server-side session management. They can also be revoked by invalidating the token on the server, providing finer control over access.
-
Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS): JWTs can be included in HTTP headers, making them compatible with CORS policies and enabling secure communication between different domains.
In summary, while HTTPS ensures the security of data in transit, JWTs complement this by providing a secure and scalable mechanism for authentication and authorization in distributed systems. They offer benefits such as statelessness, scalability, and customizability, making them a valuable tool in modern web application development.
