JWT Generator

A JSON Web Token (JWT) is a standard method for securely representing claims between two parties. JWTs are signed using a cryptographic key to ensure data integrity and authenticity.

HMAC vs. Asymmetric Signing:

• HMAC (HS256/384/512): A symmetric algorithm. Both the generator and verifier share the same secret key. It is lightweight and popular for internal microservices.
• RSA / ECDSA (RS256, ES256, etc.): An asymmetric algorithm. The generator signs the token with a Private Key, and the verifier validates it using a corresponding Public Key. Useful for public APIs where the secret key shouldn't be shared.

Security Best Practices:

• Never store secrets in public repos: Keep your signing keys secure and environment-specific.
• Keep lifetimes short: Set sensible expiration times (`exp` claim) to minimize the impact of leaked tokens.
• Validate always: Always verify signatures on your API gateway/server before trusting the token claims.