JWT
Description
JSON Web Token
Access token (authorization)
Access tokens are used to inform an API that the bearer of the token has been authorized to access the API and perform a predetermined set of actions specified by the scope. It is used to authorize API access.
The token is generated after a user successfully authenticates and authorizes access.
It does not contain any information about the user itself besides their ID (sub).
It only contains authorization information about which actions the application is allowed to perform at the API (scope).
This is what makes it useful for securing an API, but not for authenticating a user.
An access token is put in the Authorization header of your request, then the API verifies the token and grant access regarding the scope.
| token key | description |
|---|---|
| scope | list of authorized accesses |
| sub | subject: unique identifier of the user |
ID token (authentication)
The ID token is used to retrieve the user’s basic profile information like name, DOB, email, and phone, which is present in the authentication server.
It should not be used to gain access to an API.
OpenID Connect always issues ID tokens along with access tokens to provide compatibility with OAuth.
ID token carries personal information about end-users that authenticate on an OpenID Connect flow.
| token key | description |
|---|---|
| aud | audience: an id of the application that should consume the token |
| auth_time | date of the authentication |
| iss | url of the issuer of the token (AWS cognito, AAD) |
| sub | subject: unique identifier of the user |
Refresh token
The refresh token is used to request new access tokens without user interaction.
Token keys
| token key | description |
|---|---|
| auth_time | date of the authentication (nb of seconds since Epoch: 1970-01-01T00:00:00Z UTC) |
| exp | expiration time |
| iat | issued at: token creation date |
| iss | url of the issuer of the token (AWS cognito, AAD) |
Azure
| acr | Authentication Context class Reference | 0 : l'authentification ne respecte pas la norme ISO/IEC 29115 |
| amr | Authentication Method | pwd |
| appid | APPlication ID | Application ID dans Azure AD Applications |
| appidacr | APPlication Authentication Context class Reference |
|
| oid | Object ID | ID unique de l'utilisateur |
| scp | Scope | user_impersonation |
| tid | Tenant ID |
