Python and Flask Part 3: Authentication with JWT
Welcome to Part 3 of our Python and Flask series. In this installment, we will discuss how to implement authentication using JSON Web Tokens (JWT) in your Flask application.
What is JWT?
JWT is an open standard (RFC 7519) that defines a compact and self-contained way for securely transmitting information between parties as a JSON object. This information can be verified and trusted because it is digitally signed.
Implementing JWT Authentication in Flask
First, you will need to install the necessary dependencies using pip:
pip install flask flask_jwt_extended
Next, you will need to set up the JWT configuration in your Flask app:
from flask import Flask
from flask_jwt_extended import JWTManager
app = Flask(__name)
app.config['JWT_SECRET_KEY'] = 'your_secret_key'
jwt = JWTManager(app)
Now, you can protect your routes by adding the `@jwt_required` decorator:
from flask import Flask
from flask_jwt_extended import JWTManager, jwt_required
app = Flask(__name)
app.config['JWT_SECRET_KEY'] = 'your_secret_key'
jwt = JWTManager(app)
@app.route('/protected')
@jwt_required
def protected():
return 'This is a protected route.'
if __name__ == '__main__':
app.run()
Generating JWT Tokens
To generate JWT tokens, you can use the `create_access_token` function:
from flask import Flask
from flask_jwt_extended import JWTManager, create_access_token
app = Flask(__name)
app.config['JWT_SECRET_KEY'] = 'your_secret_key'
jwt = JWTManager(app)
@app.route('/login', methods=['POST'])
def login():
access_token = create_access_token(identity='username')
return {'access_token': access_token}
if __name__ == '__main__':
app.run()
With these implementations, you can now securely authenticate users in your Flask application using JWT. Stay tuned for more tips and tricks in our Python and Flask series!
Watch all of the parts here: https://www.youtube.com/@dev-plusplus