Dynamic

Stateful Authentication vs JWT Authentication

Developers should use stateful authentication when building traditional web applications that require server-managed sessions, such as e-commerce sites, banking platforms, or content management systems meets developers should use jwt authentication when building stateless apis, microservices, or single-page applications (spas) that require scalable, cross-domain authentication without server-side session storage. Here's our take.

🧊Nice Pick

Stateful Authentication

Developers should use stateful authentication when building traditional web applications that require server-managed sessions, such as e-commerce sites, banking platforms, or content management systems

Stateful Authentication

Nice Pick

Developers should use stateful authentication when building traditional web applications that require server-managed sessions, such as e-commerce sites, banking platforms, or content management systems

Pros

  • +It's particularly useful for scenarios needing server-side control over session revocation, real-time permission updates, or compliance with regulatory requirements that mandate centralized session management
  • +Related to: session-management, cookies

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

JWT Authentication

Developers should use JWT Authentication when building stateless APIs, microservices, or single-page applications (SPAs) that require scalable, cross-domain authentication without server-side session storage

Pros

  • +It's particularly useful for scenarios like mobile app logins, third-party API integrations, and real-time applications where tokens can be easily validated and contain custom claims for authorization
  • +Related to: oauth-2.0, openid-connect

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Stateful Authentication if: You want it's particularly useful for scenarios needing server-side control over session revocation, real-time permission updates, or compliance with regulatory requirements that mandate centralized session management and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use JWT Authentication if: You prioritize it's particularly useful for scenarios like mobile app logins, third-party api integrations, and real-time applications where tokens can be easily validated and contain custom claims for authorization over what Stateful Authentication offers.

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The Bottom Line
Stateful Authentication wins

Developers should use stateful authentication when building traditional web applications that require server-managed sessions, such as e-commerce sites, banking platforms, or content management systems

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