JWT Authentication and Cookie Management in Web Applications

- JWT (JSON Web Token) is a compact and secure way to represent user information for authentication. - JWT consists of header, payload (containing user data), and signature (created using a secret key). - JWTs are stored in cookies for automatic sending with each request to the server. - The provided code demonstrates JWT generation using the "jsonwebtoken" library and cookie storage with security options. - JWTs allow for stateless authentication, as the server doesn't store user session data. - Cookies provide an extra layer of security by preventing client-side scripts from accessing the JWT. - Convenience for users is enhanced as they remain logged in within the JWT's validity period. - Skipping JWT generation prevents user authentication and access to protected areas. - Skipping cookie storage results in loss of authentication state after page refresh or navigation. - Understanding JWT and cookie management is crucial for building secure and user-friendly web applications.