auth0-js vs jsonwebtoken vs oidc-client vs passport
JavaScript Authentication Libraries for Frontend and Backend
Search packages..
auth0-jsjsonwebtokenoidc-clientpassportSimilar Packages:

JavaScript Authentication Libraries for Frontend and Backend

auth0-js, jsonwebtoken, oidc-client, and passport are all related to authentication in JavaScript applications, but they operate in fundamentally different layers and contexts. auth0-js is a deprecated frontend SDK specifically for Auth0's authentication service. jsonwebtoken is a Node.js utility for signing and verifying JSON Web Tokens, intended for server-side use only. oidc-client is a deprecated generic OpenID Connect client for browsers, designed to work with any OIDC-compliant identity provider. passport is an actively maintained authentication middleware for Node.js applications, commonly used with Express to handle various authentication strategies like local credentials, JWT, or OAuth providers. Understanding where each package fits — frontend vs backend, generic vs provider-specific, and current vs deprecated status — is crucial for secure and maintainable architecture.

Npm Package Weekly Downloads Trend

3 Years

Github Stars Ranking

Stat Detail

Package
Downloads
Stars
Size
Issues
Publish
License
auth0-js01,0468.58 MB311 hours agoMIT
jsonwebtoken018,16943.4 kB1914 months agoMIT
oidc-client02,434-1165 years agoApache-2.0
passport023,525157 kB3952 years agoMIT

Authentication and Authorization in JavaScript: auth0-js vs jsonwebtoken vs oidc-client vs passport

When building modern web applications, handling user identity securely is non-negotiable. The four packages — auth0-js, jsonwebtoken, oidc-client, and passport — all relate to authentication but serve very different roles in the stack. Confusing them leads to architectural mistakes, like using a low-level JWT utility for frontend login flows or trying to run a server-side strategy on the client. Let’s clarify where each belongs.

🧩 Core Responsibilities: What Each Package Actually Does

auth0-js: Frontend SDK for Auth0

auth0-js is a browser-only library provided by Auth0 to handle authentication flows with their platform. It wraps OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect (OIDC) protocols specifically for Auth0’s implementation. You use it to log users in via redirects or popups, get ID/access tokens, and manage sessions — but only if you’re using Auth0 as your identity provider.

// auth0-js: Login and get user info
import Auth0 from 'auth0-js';

const webAuth = new Auth0.WebAuth({
  domain: 'your-tenant.auth0.com',
  clientID: 'your-client-id',
  redirectUri: 'https://your-app.com/callback',
  responseType: 'token id_token'
});

webAuth.authorize(); // Redirects to Auth0 login

// Later, in callback handler:
webAuth.parseHash((err, authResult) => {
  if (!err) {
    const { idTokenPayload } = authResult;
    console.log('User:', idTokenPayload);
  }
});

⚠️ Important: This package is deprecated as of 2021. Auth0 recommends migrating to @auth0/auth0-spa-js for new projects. Avoid auth0-js in greenfield development.

jsonwebtoken: Low-Level JWT Encoding/Decoding

jsonwebtoken is a server-side (Node.js) utility for creating and verifying JSON Web Tokens. It has no knowledge of OAuth, OIDC, or browser flows. You use it when you need to mint tokens after validating credentials (e.g., in a custom login API) or validate tokens sent by clients.

// jsonwebtoken: Sign and verify tokens (Node.js only)
import jwt from 'jsonwebtoken';

// After validating username/password
const token = jwt.sign({ userId: 123 }, 'secret-key', { expiresIn: '1h' });

// Later, verify an incoming token
const decoded = jwt.verify(token, 'secret-key');
console.log(decoded.userId); // 123

❗ This package should never run in the browser. It requires access to secret keys, which would be exposed to users. Use it only in trusted backend environments.

oidc-client: Generic OIDC Client for Browsers

oidc-client is a frontend library that implements the OpenID Connect protocol generically — not tied to any specific provider like Auth0. It handles token storage, silent renewals, and PKCE flow, making it suitable for apps that need to integrate with any OIDC-compliant identity server (e.g., IdentityServer, Okta, Keycloak).

// oidc-client: Generic OIDC login
import { UserManager } from 'oidc-client';

const userManager = new UserManager({
  authority: 'https://your-oidc-server.com',
  client_id: 'your-client-id',
  redirect_uri: 'https://your-app.com/callback',
  response_type: 'code',
  scope: 'openid profile'
});

userManager.signinRedirect(); // Starts OIDC flow

// In callback page:
userManager.signinRedirectCallback().then(user => {
  console.log('Access token:', user.access_token);
});

⚠️ Important: As of 2023, oidc-client is deprecated. The maintainers recommend migrating to oidc-client-ts, a TypeScript rewrite with active support. Do not start new projects with oidc-client.

passport: Authentication Middleware for Node.js

passport is a server-side framework for authenticating requests in Express (or other Node.js web servers). It uses “strategies” (e.g., passport-local, passport-jwt, passport-google-oauth20) to handle different auth methods. It never runs in the browser — it processes credentials sent by frontend clients.

// passport: Local username/password strategy (Express.js)
import passport from 'passport';
import { Strategy as LocalStrategy } from 'passport-local';

passport.use(new LocalStrategy(
  async (username, password, done) => {
    const user = await db.findUser(username);
    if (!user || !verifyPassword(password, user.password)) {
      return done(null, false);
    }
    return done(null, user);
  }
));

// In route handler:
app.post('/login', 
  passport.authenticate('local', { session: false }),
  (req, res) => {
    // req.user is available here
    const token = jwt.sign({ id: req.user.id }, 'secret');
    res.json({ token });
  }
);

✅ passport is actively maintained and widely used in Node.js backends. It’s not deprecated.

🖥️ Runtime Environment: Where Each Package Runs

PackageEnvironmentCan Run in Browser?Can Run in Node.js?
auth0-jsFrontend only✅ Yes❌ No
jsonwebtokenBackend only❌ No (unsafe)✅ Yes
oidc-clientFrontend only✅ Yes❌ No
passportBackend only❌ No✅ Yes

Mixing these up causes critical errors:

  • Putting jsonwebtoken in frontend code leaks secrets.
  • Trying to use passport in a React app does nothing — it needs an HTTP server.
  • Using auth0-js with a non-Auth0 provider won’t work.

🔐 Token Handling: Creation vs Consumption

  • Creating tokens: Only jsonwebtoken (on the server) should generate JWTs. Frontend libraries like auth0-js or oidc-client receive tokens from identity providers — they don’t create them.

  • Consuming tokens: Frontend apps use auth0-js or oidc-client to store tokens (in memory or secure cookies) and attach them to API requests. Backend APIs use passport (with passport-jwt) or direct jsonwebtoken.verify() calls to validate tokens.

// Backend: Verify token sent by frontend (using jsonwebtoken directly)
app.get('/protected', (req, res) => {
  const token = req.headers.authorization?.split(' ')[1];
  try {
    const decoded = jwt.verify(token, 'secret-key');
    res.json({ message: 'OK', user: decoded });
  } catch (err) {
    res.status(401).json({ error: 'Invalid token' });
  }
});

// Backend: Same thing, but with passport-jwt strategy
import { Strategy as JwtStrategy } from 'passport-jwt';

passport.use(new JwtStrategy({ secretOrKey: 'secret-key', jwtFromRequest: ... }, 
  (payload, done) => done(null, payload)
));

app.get('/protected', passport.authenticate('jwt', { session: false }), (req, res) => {
  res.json({ user: req.user });
});

🔄 Flow Integration: How They Fit Together

In a typical full-stack app:

  1. Frontend uses oidc-client-ts (successor to oidc-client) or @auth0/auth0-spa-js (successor to auth0-js) to authenticate the user and obtain tokens.
  2. Frontend sends the access token to your backend API in the Authorization header.
  3. Backend uses passport with passport-jwt (which internally uses jsonwebtoken) to validate the token and authorize the request.

You would never use auth0-js and passport in the same layer — one is frontend, the other backend.

🚫 Deprecation Status: What Not to Use

  • auth0-js: Deprecated. Use @auth0/auth0-spa-js instead.
  • oidc-client: Deprecated. Use oidc-client-ts instead.
  • jsonwebtoken: Actively maintained. Safe for backend use.
  • passport: Actively maintained. Standard in Node.js auth.

If you’re starting a new project:

  • For frontend OIDC, pick oidc-client-ts (generic) or @auth0/auth0-spa-js (Auth0-specific).
  • For backend token handling, use passport + strategies or jsonwebtoken directly.

💡 Summary: When to Use What

ScenarioRecommended Package(s)
Building a React app with Auth0@auth0/auth0-spa-js (not auth0-js)
Building a React app with any OIDC provideroidc-client-ts (not oidc-client)
Validating JWTs in a Node.js APIpassport + passport-jwt or jsonwebtoken
Creating custom JWTs after loginjsonwebtoken (server only)
Implementing username/password login backendpassport + passport-local

Choose based on layer (frontend vs backend) and protocol (generic OIDC vs Auth0-specific). Never mix responsibilities — keep token creation on the server, and leave browser flows to dedicated frontend SDKs.

How to Choose: auth0-js vs jsonwebtoken vs oidc-client vs passport

  • auth0-js:

    Avoid auth0-js in new projects — it is officially deprecated by Auth0. If you're integrating with Auth0 specifically, use its modern replacement @auth0/auth0-spa-js, which offers better security (PKCE by default), smaller bundle size, and ongoing support. Only consider legacy auth0-js if maintaining an old application that hasn't been migrated yet.

  • jsonwebtoken:

    Choose jsonwebtoken when you need to programmatically sign or verify JWTs in a Node.js backend environment — for example, issuing tokens after successful login or validating tokens in protected API routes. Never use it in frontend code, as it requires access to secret keys that must remain confidential. It’s a low-level tool; pair it with frameworks like Express or authentication middleware like Passport for complete solutions.

  • oidc-client:

    Do not use oidc-client for new development — it is deprecated and no longer maintained. Instead, adopt its official successor oidc-client-ts, which provides the same generic OpenID Connect functionality with TypeScript support and active updates. Use this family of libraries only when you need a standards-compliant OIDC client for the browser that works with any identity provider like IdentityServer, Okta, or Keycloak.

  • passport:

    Choose passport when building a Node.js backend (typically with Express) that needs flexible, strategy-based authentication — such as supporting local username/password, social logins (Google, GitHub), or JWT validation. It’s a mature, well-tested middleware that handles request authentication cleanly. Remember, Passport runs only on the server; it should never be included in frontend bundles.

Similar Npm Packages to auth0-js

auth0-js is a JavaScript library provided by Auth0 that allows developers to easily integrate authentication and authorization into their web applications. It simplifies the process of implementing secure login, user management, and access control using Auth0's powerful identity management platform. With auth0-js, developers can quickly set up authentication flows, manage user sessions, and handle tokens, making it a popular choice for applications that require robust security features.

While auth0-js is a great option for authentication, there are several alternatives that developers can consider:

  • jsonwebtoken is a library that allows you to work with JSON Web Tokens (JWT). It provides functionality for signing, verifying, and decoding JWTs, making it a suitable choice for applications that require token-based authentication. If your application is built around JWTs and you need a lightweight solution for handling tokens, jsonwebtoken is an excellent choice. It is often used in conjunction with other authentication libraries to manage user sessions and secure API endpoints.

  • oidc-client is a library designed for handling OpenID Connect (OIDC) authentication in JavaScript applications. It provides a simple way to implement OIDC flows, manage user sessions, and handle tokens. If your application needs to support OIDC for authentication, oidc-client is a solid choice. It is particularly useful for single-page applications (SPAs) that require secure authentication with identity providers that support OIDC.

  • passport is a middleware for Node.js that simplifies the implementation of various authentication strategies. It supports a wide range of authentication methods, including local authentication, OAuth, OpenID, and more. If you are building a server-side application and need a comprehensive solution for handling different authentication strategies, passport is a great option. Its modular design allows you to easily integrate various authentication methods into your application.

To see how auth0-js compares with jsonwebtoken, oidc-client, and passport, check out the comparison: Comparing auth0-js vs jsonwebtoken vs oidc-client vs passport.

Similar Npm Packages to jsonwebtoken

jsonwebtoken is a widely-used library for creating and verifying JSON Web Tokens (JWT) in Node.js applications. JWTs are a compact, URL-safe means of representing claims to be transferred between two parties. The jsonwebtoken library provides a simple API for signing and verifying tokens, making it a popular choice for authentication and authorization in web applications. It supports various algorithms for signing tokens and allows developers to easily manage user sessions and secure API endpoints.

While jsonwebtoken is a robust solution for handling JWTs, there are alternatives that cater to different needs:

  • jwt-decode is a lightweight library that focuses solely on decoding JWTs. Unlike jsonwebtoken, which can both sign and verify tokens, jwt-decode is used to extract the payload from a JWT without validating its signature. This can be useful when you need to read the claims contained in a token without requiring the secret key. If your application needs to read JWTs but does not require signing or verifying them, jwt-decode is a great choice.
  • jwt-simple is another library that provides a simple way to encode and decode JSON Web Tokens. It offers a minimalist API for creating and verifying tokens, focusing on simplicity and ease of use. While it does not support as many features as jsonwebtoken, such as advanced signature algorithms or token expiration handling, it can be a good option for projects that require a straightforward implementation of JWTs without the overhead of a more complex library.

To compare these libraries, check out the following link: Comparing jsonwebtoken vs jwt-decode vs jwt-simple.

Similar Npm Packages to oidc-client

oidc-client is a JavaScript library designed for handling OpenID Connect (OIDC) authentication in web applications. It provides a simple way to manage user authentication, including token management, user sessions, and interaction with OIDC providers. While oidc-client is a robust solution for OIDC authentication, there are several alternatives in the ecosystem that cater to similar needs. Here are a few noteworthy alternatives:

  • oidc-client-ts is a TypeScript version of the original oidc-client library. It retains the same core functionality while providing type safety and improved developer experience for TypeScript users. If you're building a TypeScript application and want to leverage the benefits of strong typing while managing OIDC authentication, oidc-client-ts is an excellent choice.

  • oidc-provider is a library for implementing an OpenID Connect provider. Unlike the other libraries mentioned, which focus on client-side authentication, oidc-provider is designed for server-side applications. It allows developers to create their own OIDC-compliant identity provider, enabling them to manage user authentication and authorization flows. If you're looking to build a custom OIDC provider for your applications, oidc-provider is the go-to solution.

  • openid-client is another library that provides a client implementation for OpenID Connect. It is designed to work with any OpenID Connect provider and offers a comprehensive set of features for handling authentication and token management. openid-client is particularly useful for server-side applications that need to interact with OIDC providers. If you require flexibility in choosing your OIDC provider and need a robust client implementation, openid-client is a strong candidate.

  • react-oidc-context is a React-specific library that simplifies the integration of OIDC authentication in React applications. It provides a context-based approach to managing authentication state and user sessions, making it easy to access authentication information throughout your React components. If you are building a React application and want a seamless way to manage OIDC authentication, react-oidc-context is a great option.

To see how these packages compare, check out the comparison: Comparing oidc-client vs oidc-client-ts vs oidc-provider vs openid-client vs react-oidc-context.

Similar Npm Packages to passport

passport is an authentication middleware for Node.js applications, particularly those built with Express. It provides a simple and unobtrusive way to handle user authentication, supporting a wide range of authentication strategies, including local username and password, OAuth, OpenID, and more. Passport is designed to be flexible and modular, allowing developers to choose the authentication methods that best suit their applications.

While Passport is a robust solution for authentication, there are several alternatives that can be used for various aspects of user authentication and session management. Here are a few notable alternatives:

  • bcrypt is a library used for hashing passwords. It is commonly used in conjunction with authentication libraries like Passport to securely store user passwords. Bcrypt employs a strong hashing algorithm that makes it difficult for attackers to retrieve the original password, even if they gain access to the hashed version. If your primary concern is securely handling user passwords, bcrypt is an essential tool to incorporate into your authentication workflow.

  • express-session is a middleware for managing user sessions in Express applications. It allows you to store session data on the server side and associate it with a unique session ID stored in a cookie on the client side. While Passport handles authentication, express-session can be used to maintain user sessions after authentication has occurred. This is particularly useful for applications that require user login persistence across multiple requests.

  • jsonwebtoken is a library for creating and verifying JSON Web Tokens (JWT). JWTs are a popular method for handling authentication in modern web applications, allowing for stateless authentication. When used with Passport, jsonwebtoken can provide a way to issue tokens after successful authentication, enabling secure communication between the client and server without the need for session storage. If your application requires a stateless authentication mechanism, jsonwebtoken is a great alternative to consider.

To explore how these packages compare, check out the comparison: Comparing bcrypt vs express-session vs jsonwebtoken vs passport.

README for auth0-js

Client Side JavaScript toolkot for Auth0 API

Release Codecov Ask DeepWiki Downloads License CircleCI

📚 Documentation - 🚀 Getting Started - 💻 API Reference - 💬 Feedback

Documentation

  • Library docs - a complete reference and examples.
  • Sample App - a sample application integrated with Auth0.
  • Examples - code samples for common auth0-js authentication scenario's.
  • Docs site - explore our docs site and learn more about Auth0.

Getting started

Installation

From CDN:

<!-- Latest patch release -->
<script src="https://cdn.auth0.com/js/auth0/9.32.0/auth0.min.js"></script>

From npm:

npm install auth0-js

After installing the auth0-js module using npm, you'll need to bundle it up along with all of its dependencies, or import it using:

import auth0 from 'auth0-js';

Configure the SDK

auth0.WebAuth

Provides support for all the authentication flows.

var auth0 = new auth0.WebAuth({
  domain: '{YOUR_AUTH0_DOMAIN}',
  clientID: '{YOUR_AUTH0_CLIENT_ID}'
});

auth0.Authentication

Provides an API client for the Auth0 Authentication API.

var auth0 = new auth0.Authentication({
  domain: '{YOUR_AUTH0_DOMAIN}',
  clientID: '{YOUR_AUTH0_CLIENT_ID}'
});

auth0.Management

Provides an API Client for the Auth0 Management API (only methods meant to be used from the client with the user token). You should use an access_token with the https://YOUR_DOMAIN.auth0.com/api/v2/ audience to make this work. For more information, read the user management section of the Auth0.js documentation.

var auth0 = new auth0.Management({
  domain: '{YOUR_AUTH0_DOMAIN}',
  token: '{ACCESS_TOKEN_FROM_THE_USER}'
});

API reference

auth0.webAuth

auth0.Authentication

auth0.Management

Feedback

Contributing

We appreciate feedback and contribution to this repo! Before you get started, please see the following:

Raise an issue

To provide feedback or report a bug, please raise an issue on our issue tracker.

Vulnerability Reporting

Please do not report security vulnerabilities on the public GitHub issue tracker. The Responsible Disclosure Program details the procedure for disclosing security issues.

Auth0 Logo

Auth0 is an easy to implement, adaptable authentication and authorization platform. To learn more checkout Why Auth0?

This project is licensed under the MIT license. See the LICENSE file for more info.

npm-compare.com is an independent website designed to help developers choose the most suitable npm packages. We are not affiliated with npm, Inc, the official website for the npm registry. Note that npm is a registered trademark of npm, Inc. Please share your feedback via our GitHub repository. For more details, please refer to our Terms & Privacy.