JWT Decoder
Paste your JSON Web Token below to decode its header and payload.
Understanding JSON Web Tokens (JWTs)
JSON Web Tokens (JWTs) are an open, industry standard (RFC 7519) method for representing claims securely between two parties. This decoder helps you inspect and understand the contents of JWT tokens without verification.
Token Structure
- Header: Algorithm and token type metadata
- Payload: Claims and user information
- Signature: Cryptographic verification data
- Format: header.payload.signature
- Encoding: Each part is Base64URL encoded
- Separation: Parts separated by dots (.)
Common Header Fields
alg
- Signing algorithm (e.g., HS256, RS256)typ
- Token type (usually "JWT")kid
- Key ID for key rotationcty
- Content type (for nested JWTs)crit
- Critical header parameters
📋 Claims Reference
Registered Claims
iss
IssuerIdentifies the principal that issued the token
sub
SubjectIdentifies the principal that is the subject of the JWT
aud
AudienceRecipients that the JWT is intended for
exp
ExpirationTime after which the JWT expires (Unix timestamp)
Additional Claims
nbf
Not BeforeTime before which the JWT must not be accepted
iat
Issued AtTime at which the JWT was issued (Unix timestamp)
jti
JWT IDUnique identifier for the JWT
custom
Private ClaimsApplication-specific claims (e.g., roles, permissions)
Security Analysis
🔍 What to Check
- Algorithm: Verify expected signing algorithm
- Expiration: Check if token is still valid
- Issuer: Confirm token source is trusted
- Audience: Ensure token is intended for your app
- Claims: Validate all security-relevant claims
- Signature: Always verify in production!
⚠️ Security Warnings
- No Verification: This tool only decodes, doesn't verify
- Sensitive Data: JWTs are not encrypted by default
- Algorithm None: Beware of unsigned tokens
- Key Confusion: Validate algorithm matches expected
- Replay Attacks: Implement proper token tracking
- Storage: Use secure storage mechanisms
🕒 Timestamp Decoder
Unix timestamps in JWTs can be converted to human-readable dates:
Current Time
1750048332
6/16/2025, 4:32:12 AM
Example: 1516239022
1/18/2018, 1:30:22 AM
1 Hour from Now
1750051932
6/16/2025, 5:32:12 AM