OAuth vs JWT (JSON Web Tokens): An In-Depth Comparison

OAuth and JSON Web Tokens (JWT) are two prominent protocols in the realm of secure information exchange and user authentication, each serving distinct purposes. OAuth is primarily used for authorization and access delegation, allowing third-party applications limited access to user resources without sharing credentials, making it ideal for scenarios requiring fine-grained access control and Single Sign-On (SSO) implementations. On the other hand, JWT is designed for secure information exchange and authentication, well-suited for stateless applications and microservices due to its compact, self-contained nature. While OAuth involves a more complex, multi-step process, offering robust security features like token revocation, JWT is simpler, relying on cryptographic signatures for security but poses challenges in token revocation. Despite their differences, OAuth and JWT can be used together, with OAuth handling authorization and issuing JWTs as access tokens, combining the strengths of both protocols for enhanced security and performance in distributed systems.