How to Decode JWT Tokens in Node.js

JSON Web Tokens (JWT) are the modern standard for securing APIs and maintaining stateless authentication. While signing a JWT requires a secret key, decoding the payload does not.

Why Decode a JWT?

A JWT consists of three parts: Header, Payload, and Signature. Developers often need to read the payload to extract user IDs or roles on the client side.

While you can write custom Node.js code using libraries like jsonwebtoken, sometimes you just need to quickly inspect a token during debugging.

Pro Tip: Never put sensitive information (like passwords) inside a JWT payload because anyone can decode it!