JWT Authentication
JSON Web Tokens (JWT) are a widely used standard for securely transmitting authentication information between a client and server. This tutorial explains how JWT authentication works in React Native applications.
What is a JWT?
A JWT is a compact, encoded string consisting of three parts: a header, a payload containing claims like user ID and expiration, and a signature used to verify the token’s authenticity.
Receiving a JWT After Login
Storing Tokens Securely
Access tokens should be stored securely, ideally using react-native-keychain or a similar encrypted storage solution, rather than plain AsyncStorage for production applications.
Attaching the JWT to Requests
Handling Token Expiration with Refresh Tokens
Since access tokens typically expire after a short period, a refresh token is used to silently obtain a new access token without requiring the user to log in again.
Automatically Refreshing on 401 Responses
An Axios response interceptor can detect a 401 response, attempt to refresh the token automatically, and retry the original failed request seamlessly.
Conclusion
JWT authentication, combined with a refresh token strategy, provides a secure and user-friendly way to manage authenticated sessions in React Native applications without frequent re-logins.
