JWT vs Session Cookies
Developers should use JWT when building stateless authentication systems, such as in RESTful APIs or single-page applications, to avoid server-side session storage and enable scalable, distributed architectures 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.
JWT
Developers should use JWT when building stateless authentication systems, such as in RESTful APIs or single-page applications, to avoid server-side session storage and enable scalable, distributed architectures
JWT
Nice PickDevelopers should use JWT when building stateless authentication systems, such as in RESTful APIs or single-page applications, to avoid server-side session storage and enable scalable, distributed architectures
Pros
- +It is particularly useful for scenarios like user login, API access control, and secure data exchange between microservices, as it provides a compact, self-contained token that can be easily transmitted via HTTP headers or URLs
- +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 JWT if: You want it is particularly useful for scenarios like user login, api access control, and secure data exchange between microservices, as it provides a compact, self-contained token that can be easily transmitted via http headers or urls 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 JWT offers.
Developers should use JWT when building stateless authentication systems, such as in RESTful APIs or single-page applications, to avoid server-side session storage and enable scalable, distributed architectures
Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev