What is JWT Decoding?
JWT decoding is the process of breaking down a JWT token into its components (Header, Payload, Signature) and displaying their contents. Decoding doesn't require a secret key since the Header and Payload parts of a JWT are just Base64-encoded JSON data.
JWT Structure Breakdown
Header: Contains token type (typ) and signing algorithm (alg) information
Payload: Contains claims such as user information, expiration time, etc.
Signature: Used to verify token integrity, requires secret key for verification
Common Payload Fields
- iss (Issuer): Token issuer
- sub (Subject): Token subject, usually user ID
- aud (Audience): Token recipient
- exp (Expiration): Token expiration time
- iat (Issued At): Token issued time
- nbf (Not Before): Token valid from time
Security Reminders
- JWT Header and Payload parts are Base64 encoded and can be decoded by anyone
- Don't store sensitive information in JWT, such as passwords or credit card numbers
- Decoding JWT is not the same as verifying JWT - verification requires a secret key
- Always check JWT expiration time and other important fields