JSON Web Tokens vs Session Cookies
Developers should learn JWT for implementing stateless authentication in distributed systems, such as microservices or single-page applications, where server-side sessions are impractical meets developers should use session cookies when building web applications that require state management during a user's visit, such as e-commerce sites for shopping carts, authentication systems for login sessions, or multi-step forms to retain input data. Here's our take.
JSON Web Tokens
Developers should learn JWT for implementing stateless authentication in distributed systems, such as microservices or single-page applications, where server-side sessions are impractical
JSON Web Tokens
Nice PickDevelopers should learn JWT for implementing stateless authentication in distributed systems, such as microservices or single-page applications, where server-side sessions are impractical
Pros
- +They are ideal for scenarios requiring secure token-based access control, like API authorization, user login flows, and cross-domain authentication, due to their compact size and self-contained nature
- +Related to: authentication, authorization
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
Session Cookies
Developers should use session cookies when building web applications that require state management during a user's visit, such as e-commerce sites for shopping carts, authentication systems for login sessions, or multi-step forms to retain input data
Pros
- +They are crucial for creating seamless user experiences by avoiding the need to re-enter information and enabling server-side applications to identify and respond to individual users across multiple HTTP requests
- +Related to: http-cookies, authentication
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
The Verdict
Use JSON Web Tokens if: You want they are ideal for scenarios requiring secure token-based access control, like api authorization, user login flows, and cross-domain authentication, due to their compact size and self-contained nature and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.
Use Session Cookies if: You prioritize they are crucial for creating seamless user experiences by avoiding the need to re-enter information and enabling server-side applications to identify and respond to individual users across multiple http requests over what JSON Web Tokens offers.
Developers should learn JWT for implementing stateless authentication in distributed systems, such as microservices or single-page applications, where server-side sessions are impractical
Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev