What role does JWT play in authentication processes?

JWT, or JSON Web Token, plays a crucial role in authentication processes by securely transmitting information between parties. It is a compact, URL-safe means of representing claims to be transferred between two parties. This token typically contains encoded JSON objects, which represent user identity and other relevant metadata.

When a user logs in, the server authenticates the user and issues a JWT that the client then uses to prove its identity in subsequent requests. This token can include various claims about the user's identity and permissions, allowing the server to validate the user's access without needing to re-authenticate them on every request. By using JWTs, systems can maintain secure communication and protect sensitive data transmission, ensuring that only recipients with the appropriate key can decode the token and validate the claims.

In summary, JWT supports the authentication process by securely transmitting authentication information, which is vital for maintaining user sessions and managing access rights within applications.