Secure Your APIs: OAuth2 and JWT for Beginners - The JetBrains Blog

Securing APIs is a critical but challenging aspect of API development, often targeted by malicious actors due to the exposure of data and functionality. OAuth 2.0 and JSON Web Tokens (JWT) are instrumental technologies in managing API security by facilitating identity representation, verification, and delegated authorization. This tutorial by Mdu Sibisi, an experienced software developer, explores how these technologies can be effectively implemented to secure APIs built with Spring Boot, illustrating the process with a Kotlin and Spring-based document management system. OAuth2 handles delegated authorization by allowing users to grant applications a token representing their permissions, while JWTs provide a compact, verifiable token format for secure information transport. The tutorial emphasizes separating authentication (identity verification) from authorization (access control) and highlights best practices like issuer and audience enforcement, custom claims mapping, and avoiding hardcoded security decisions. The approach leverages Kotlin's capabilities, such as null safety and concise configuration, to enhance security and reduce system complexity while maintaining usability.

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