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JWT Decoder

Decode and inspect JWT tokens. View header, payload, and expiration status.

How to Use

1

Paste JWT

Paste your JWT token.

2

View decoded

See header and payload.

3

Check expiration

See if the token is expired.

Features

Header decoding
Payload decoding
Expiration check
Formatted JSON output
100% client-side

Frequently Asked Questions

JWT (JSON Web Token) is a compact, URL-safe token format used for authentication and information exchange between parties.

Yes! All decoding happens locally in your browser. Your tokens are never sent to any server.

JSON Web Tokens (JWTs) are the modern standard for authentication and information exchange. Our decoder breaks down the header, payload, and signature sections, helping you debug authentication issues and understand token contents without exposing your secret keys.

Did You Know?

JWT was proposed in 2010 and standardized in RFC 7519 in 2015. Despite being widely used for sessions, JWTs were originally designed for short-lived tokens in stateless architectures!

Pro Tips

  • JWTs have three parts separated by dots: header.payload.signature
  • The payload is only Base64-encoded, NOT encrypted - don't store secrets in it
  • Check the 'exp' claim for token expiration time
  • The 'iat' (issued at) and 'nbf' (not before) claims control token validity windows

Common Use Cases

  • Debugging authentication issues in web applications
  • Verifying token claims and expiration
  • Understanding OAuth2 access token contents
  • Inspecting ID tokens from identity providers
  • Troubleshooting API authorization problems

Best Practices

  • Never decode JWTs from untrusted sources in production without verification
  • Always validate the signature server-side before trusting claims
  • Use short expiration times and refresh tokens for better security

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