jose vs jsonwebtoken vs jwa vs jws vs node-jose
JavaScript JWT and JWK Libraries
josejsonwebtokenjwajwsnode-joseSimilar Packages:

JavaScript JWT and JWK Libraries

These libraries provide functionalities for creating, signing, verifying, and decoding JSON Web Tokens (JWT) and JSON Web Keys (JWK). They are essential for implementing authentication and authorization in web applications, allowing secure transmission of information between parties. Each library has its unique features, performance characteristics, and use cases, making them suitable for different scenarios in web development.

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jose07,431257 kB15 days agoMIT
jsonwebtoken018,16143.4 kB1873 months agoMIT
jwa010214.1 kB1710 months agoMIT
jws072418.8 kB323 months agoMIT
node-jose0722353 kB713 years agoApache-2.0

Feature Comparison: jose vs jsonwebtoken vs jwa vs jws vs node-jose

Standards Compliance

  • jose:

    JOSE is built to comply with the full suite of JOSE standards, including JWT, JWS, JWE, and JWK, making it a versatile choice for applications requiring adherence to security standards.

  • jsonwebtoken:

    jsonwebtoken focuses primarily on JWT, ensuring compliance with the JWT specification but not the broader JOSE standards, making it simpler but less comprehensive.

  • jwa:

    JWA is specifically designed for implementing the signing and encryption algorithms defined in the JOSE specifications, ensuring compliance with those standards.

  • jws:

    JWS is dedicated to the JSON Web Signature standard, providing a focused implementation for signing and verifying data according to the JWS specification.

  • node-jose:

    node-jose supports various JOSE standards and provides a high-level API for working with JWTs and JWKs, ensuring compliance with relevant specifications.

Ease of Use

  • jose:

    JOSE offers a comprehensive API that may have a steeper learning curve due to its extensive feature set, but it provides powerful capabilities once mastered.

  • jsonwebtoken:

    jsonwebtoken is known for its simplicity and ease of use, making it an excellent choice for developers who need quick JWT implementation without complex configurations.

  • jwa:

    JWA provides a modular approach that is straightforward for developers familiar with cryptographic concepts, but it may require additional understanding of the underlying algorithms.

  • jws:

    JWS is user-friendly for those specifically focused on signing and verifying data, with a clear API that simplifies the process.

  • node-jose:

    node-jose has a more complex API due to its advanced features, which may require a deeper understanding of cryptographic principles.

Performance

  • jose:

    JOSE's performance is robust, but its comprehensive feature set may introduce overhead for simple use cases. It is optimized for applications that require extensive cryptographic operations.

  • jsonwebtoken:

    jsonwebtoken is lightweight and optimized for performance, making it ideal for applications that need fast JWT creation and verification without additional overhead.

  • jwa:

    JWA's performance is dependent on the specific algorithms used, but it is generally efficient for applications that require modular cryptographic functionalities.

  • jws:

    JWS is designed for high performance in signing and verification processes, ensuring minimal latency in applications that require frequent data integrity checks.

  • node-jose:

    node-jose may have a performance overhead due to its extensive features, but it is optimized for applications that require complex cryptographic operations.

Key Management

  • jose:

    JOSE provides advanced key management features, including support for key rotation and storage, making it suitable for applications with stringent security requirements.

  • jsonwebtoken:

    jsonwebtoken does not provide built-in key management features, relying on developers to manage keys externally, making it less suitable for applications requiring complex key management.

  • jwa:

    JWA focuses on the algorithms and does not include key management features, requiring developers to implement their own solutions for handling keys.

  • jws:

    JWS does not include key management capabilities, focusing solely on signing and verification, which may necessitate external key management solutions.

  • node-jose:

    node-jose offers high-level key management features, allowing for easier handling of keys and integration with JWTs, making it suitable for applications needing robust key management.

Extensibility

  • jose:

    JOSE is highly extensible, allowing developers to implement custom algorithms and features, making it suitable for applications with unique security requirements.

  • jsonwebtoken:

    jsonwebtoken is less extensible, focusing on standard JWT functionalities without support for custom algorithms or extensions.

  • jwa:

    JWA allows for extensibility through its modular approach, enabling developers to implement additional algorithms as needed.

  • jws:

    JWS is primarily focused on signing and verification, with limited extensibility options, making it less suitable for applications needing custom features.

  • node-jose:

    node-jose is extensible and allows for custom implementations, making it a good choice for applications that require tailored cryptographic solutions.

How to Choose: jose vs jsonwebtoken vs jwa vs jws vs node-jose

  • jose:

    Choose JOSE if you need a comprehensive library that supports a wide range of JOSE standards (JWT, JWS, JWE, JWK) and requires advanced features like key management and encryption. It is well-suited for applications that need robust security features and compliance with various standards.

  • jsonwebtoken:

    Select jsonwebtoken for a straightforward solution to create and verify JWTs. It is lightweight and easy to use, making it ideal for projects that require basic JWT functionalities without the overhead of additional features.

  • jwa:

    Opt for JWA if you need a library focused specifically on the signing and verification algorithms used in JWTs. It is useful for applications that require a modular approach to handling different cryptographic algorithms without the full overhead of a larger library.

  • jws:

    Use JWS if your primary need is to create and verify JSON Web Signatures. It is a specialized library that simplifies the process of signing and verifying data, making it suitable for applications that need to ensure data integrity and authenticity without additional features.

  • node-jose:

    Choose node-jose if you require a library that provides a high-level API for working with JSON Web Tokens and Keys, including support for key management and encryption. It is particularly useful for applications that need to handle complex cryptographic operations.

README for jose

jose

jose is a JavaScript module for JSON Object Signing and Encryption, providing support for JSON Web Tokens (JWT), JSON Web Signature (JWS), JSON Web Encryption (JWE), JSON Web Key (JWK), JSON Web Key Set (JWKS), and more. The module is designed to work across various Web-interoperable runtimes including Node.js, browsers, Cloudflare Workers, Deno, Bun, and others.

Sponsor

Auth0 by Okta

If you want to quickly add JWT authentication to JavaScript apps, feel free to check out Auth0's JavaScript SDK and free plan. Create an Auth0 account; it's free!

💗 Help the project

Support from the community to continue maintaining and improving this module is welcome. If you find the module useful, please consider supporting the project by becoming a sponsor.

Dependencies: 0

jose has no dependencies and it exports tree-shakeable ESM1.

Documentation

jose is distributed via npmjs.com, jsr.io, jsdelivr.com, and github.com.

example ESM import1

import * as jose from 'jose'

JSON Web Tokens (JWT)

The jose module supports JSON Web Tokens (JWT) and provides functionality for signing and verifying tokens, as well as their JWT Claims Set validation.

Encrypted JSON Web Tokens

The jose module supports encrypted JSON Web Tokens and provides functionality for encrypting and decrypting tokens, as well as their JWT Claims Set validation.

Key Utilities

The jose module supports importing, exporting, and generating keys and secrets in various formats, including PEM formats like SPKI, X.509 certificate, and PKCS #8, as well as JSON Web Key (JWK).

JSON Web Signature (JWS)

The jose module supports signing and verification of JWS messages with arbitrary payloads in Compact, Flattened JSON, and General JSON serialization syntaxes.

JSON Web Encryption (JWE)

The jose module supports encryption and decryption of JWE messages with arbitrary plaintext in Compact, Flattened JSON, and General JSON serialization syntaxes.

Other

The following are additional features and utilities provided by the jose module:

Supported Runtimes

The jose module is compatible with JavaScript runtimes that support the utilized Web API globals and standard built-in objects or are Node.js.

The following runtimes are supported (this is not an exhaustive list):

Please note that certain algorithms may not be available depending on the runtime used. You can find a list of available algorithms for each runtime in the specific issue links provided above.

Supported Versions

VersionSecurity Fixes 🔑Other Bug Fixes 🐞New Features ⭐Runtime and Module type
v6.xSecurity PolicyUniversal2 ESM1
v5.xSecurity PolicyUniversal2 CJS + ESM
v4.xSecurity PolicyUniversal2 CJS + ESM
v2.xSecurity PolicyNode.js CJS

Specifications

Details

The algorithm implementations in jose have been tested using test vectors from their respective specifications as well as RFC7520.

Footnotes

  1. CJS style let jose = require('jose') is possible in Node.js versions where the require(esm) feature is enabled by default (^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >= 23.0.0). 2 3

  2. Assumes runtime support of WebCryptoAPI and Fetch API 2 3