🔐 JWT Security Best Practices

While JSON Web Tokens (JWTs) are a powerful and flexible way to manage authentication, they must be used securely. Here are important best practices to follow when working with JWTs in real-world applications.

✅ Use Short Expiration Times

Keep JWT lifetimes short to limit the window of opportunity if a token is ever compromised.

✅ Do Not Store Sensitive Data

JWTs are only base64-encoded, not encrypted. Never include passwords, personal data, or API keys in the payload.

✅ Use HTTPS

Always serve and transmit JWTs over HTTPS to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks.

✅ Validate Signatures

Always verify a JWT's signature before trusting its contents. Never assume the token is valid without proper validation.

✅ Rotate Secrets Regularly

Periodically update and rotate signing keys to reduce long-term risk if keys are ever exposed.