JWT explained
JWT stands for JSON Web Token. It is a compact token format commonly used in authentication systems.
JWT parts
A JWT usually contains three parts:
- Header
- Payload
- Signature
Why developers decode JWTs
Decoding helps you inspect claims like expiration, issuer, subject, and custom fields.
Important note
Decoding is not the same as verifying a signature. A decoder helps you read the token, not prove it is trustworthy.
Final takeaway
JWTs are common in modern auth stacks, so knowing how to inspect them is useful.