🎫 Security Tool

JWT Decoder & Validator

Decode, inspect, and validate JSON Web Tokens. View header algorithm, payload claims, expiration time, and signature verification status.

What Is a JSON Web Token (JWT)?

A JSON Web Token is a compact, URL-safe token format used for securely transmitting information between parties. JWTs consist of three Base64URL-encoded parts separated by dots: Header.Payload.Signature. They're widely used for authentication (OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect), session management, and API authorization.

JWT Structure Explained

Standard JWT Claims

Claim Name Description
iss Issuer Who created the token
sub Subject Who the token is about (usually user ID)
aud Audience Who the token is intended for
exp Expiration When the token expires (Unix timestamp)
iat Issued At When the token was created
nbf Not Before Token is not valid before this time
jti JWT ID Unique identifier for the token

JWT Security Best Practices

FAQ

Is JWT decoding safe?

Yes, JWT decoding is completely safe — the header and payload are simply Base64URL encoded, not encrypted. Anyone can decode them. The security of JWT comes from the signature verification, not from hiding the payload.

Can this tool verify JWT signatures?

This tool can decode and inspect JWT tokens, but signature verification requires the secret key (HS256) or public key (RS256), which we don't have access to. It will check if the token is expired based on the exp claim.