JWTs vs. sessions: which authentication approach is right for you?

**JWTs (JSON Web Tokens) vs Sessions:*** JWTs are self-contained tokens that contain information about the user and their permissions.* They are encrypted and signed with a secret key to ensure authenticity and integrity.* The benefits of JWTs include: + Faster authorization due to client-side validation + Interoperability with external apps + Reduction in latency for applications* However, JWTs have limitations: + Once issued, they cannot be revoked or updated + They may not be suitable for sensitive data or actions**JWTs vs Sessions Cookies:*** Both JWTs and session cookies are used for authentication and authorization.* JWTs provide faster authorization and interoperability, but require more developer investment to address security complexities.* Session cookies provide stronger guarantees of authorization, but have a latency overhead due to server-side database validation.**Hybrid Approach using Stytch:*** Stytch offers a hybrid approach that combines the benefits of JWTs and session cookies.* The approach uses both a static session token and a JWT with a shorter-lived expiry.* Expired JWTs can be passed to the Stytch session API to retrieve a fresh JWT.**Conclusion:*** There is no clear consensus on which method is superior, but Stytch provides both options for configuration.* The hybrid approach offered by Stytch balances performance and security, allowing developers to choose the best approach for their use case.