jws vs jwa vs jose vs jsonwebtoken vs node-jose
JavaScript JWT and JWK Libraries
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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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jws46,193,37072418.8 kB322 months agoMIT
jwa45,503,47910214.1 kB169 months agoMIT
jose36,015,5497,284258 kB02 months agoMIT
jsonwebtoken31,645,17318,14243.4 kB1852 months agoMIT
node-jose792,993724353 kB703 years agoApache-2.0
Feature Comparison: jws vs jwa vs jose vs jsonwebtoken vs node-jose

Standards Compliance

  • jws:

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

  • jwa:

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

  • 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.

  • 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

  • jws:

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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • node-jose:

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

Performance

  • jws:

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

  • jwa:

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

  • 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.

  • 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

  • jws:

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

  • jwa:

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

  • 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.

  • 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

  • jws:

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

  • jwa:

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

  • 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.

  • 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: jws vs jwa vs jose vs jsonwebtoken vs node-jose
  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Similar Npm Packages to jws

jws is a JavaScript library for creating and verifying JSON Web Signature (JWS) tokens. It provides a simple interface for signing and verifying data using various algorithms, making it a popular choice for developers who need to implement secure token-based authentication in their applications. While jws is a robust solution for handling JWS tokens, there are several alternatives in the ecosystem that offer similar functionality. Here are a few noteworthy options:

  • crypto-js is a widely-used library that provides a variety of cryptographic algorithms, including hashing and encryption. While it is not specifically focused on JWS, it can be used in conjunction with other libraries to create secure tokens. If you need a comprehensive set of cryptographic functions beyond just JWS, crypto-js is a solid choice.
  • jose is a modern library for handling JSON Web Tokens (JWT) and JSON Web Encryption (JWE). It supports a wide range of algorithms and is designed to be compliant with the latest specifications. If you are looking for a library that provides both JWS and JWT functionality with a focus on security and standards compliance, jose is an excellent option.
  • jsonwebtoken is a popular library for creating and verifying JSON Web Tokens (JWT). It is widely used in authentication workflows and provides a straightforward API for signing and verifying tokens. If your primary focus is on JWT rather than JWS, jsonwebtoken is a well-established choice with extensive community support.
  • node-jose is another library that provides support for JWS, JWT, and JWE. It is designed to be flexible and extensible, allowing developers to work with various cryptographic algorithms. If you need a library that can handle multiple token formats and offers a high degree of customization, node-jose is worth considering.

To see how jws compares with crypto-js, jose, jsonwebtoken, and node-jose, check out the comparison: Comparing crypto-js vs jose vs jsonwebtoken vs jws vs node-jose.

Similar Npm Packages to jwa

jwa is a JSON Web Algorithms library that provides a set of cryptographic algorithms for creating and verifying JSON Web Tokens (JWTs). It is designed to be lightweight and efficient, making it a suitable choice for developers who need to implement JWT-based authentication and authorization in their applications. While jwa offers a solid foundation for working with JWTs, there are several alternatives in the ecosystem that provide additional features or different approaches to JWT handling. Here are a few notable alternatives:

  • express-jwt is a middleware for Express.js that helps protect routes by validating JWTs. It automatically checks the incoming requests for a valid JWT in the authorization header and can reject requests that do not contain a valid token. This library is particularly useful for developers building RESTful APIs with Express who want to implement authentication and authorization quickly and efficiently.
  • jose is a comprehensive library for handling JSON Web Tokens and related standards such as JWS, JWE, and JWK. It provides a wide range of features for creating, verifying, and manipulating JWTs, making it a powerful choice for developers who require more advanced capabilities. If your application needs to handle various JWT-related tasks beyond basic signing and verification, jose is an excellent option.
  • jsonwebtoken is one of the most widely used libraries for creating and verifying JWTs in Node.js applications. It provides a simple API for signing and verifying tokens, along with options for handling expiration and audience claims. If you're looking for a straightforward and reliable solution for JWT handling, jsonwebtoken is a great choice that has been battle-tested in many applications.
  • passport-jwt is a Passport.js strategy for authenticating with JWTs. It integrates seamlessly with the Passport authentication middleware, allowing developers to add JWT authentication to their applications easily. If you're already using Passport for authentication in your application and want to incorporate JWTs, passport-jwt provides a convenient way to do so.

For a comprehensive comparison of these packages, check out the link: Comparing express-jwt vs jose vs jsonwebtoken vs jwa vs passport-jwt.

Similar Npm Packages to jose

jose is a modern JavaScript library for working with JSON Web Tokens (JWT), JWS (JSON Web Signature), JWE (JSON Web Encryption), and other related standards. It provides a comprehensive set of tools for creating, parsing, and validating JWTs and other token formats, making it a versatile choice for developers looking to implement secure authentication and authorization in their applications. While jose is a powerful library, there are several alternatives in the ecosystem that offer similar functionalities. Here are a few noteworthy options:

  • jsonwebtoken is one of the most widely used libraries for creating and verifying JSON Web Tokens in Node.js applications. It provides a simple API for signing and verifying tokens, making it easy to implement authentication and authorization in your applications. If you are looking for a straightforward solution for handling JWTs without the need for additional features, jsonwebtoken is a solid choice.

  • jwa is a library that focuses on JSON Web Algorithms, providing a set of cryptographic algorithms for signing and verifying tokens. It is often used in conjunction with other libraries to handle JWTs and JWS. If you need a lightweight solution specifically for handling cryptographic algorithms related to JWTs, jwa is a good option.

  • jws is a library for creating and verifying JSON Web Signatures. It provides a simple API for signing and verifying payloads using various algorithms. If your primary focus is on signing and verifying data rather than handling the full JWT lifecycle, jws can be a suitable alternative.

  • node-jose is a comprehensive library for working with JSON Object Signing and Encryption (JOSE) standards, including JWT, JWS, and JWE. It offers a wide range of features, including key management and support for various cryptographic algorithms. If you need a full-featured library that covers all aspects of JOSE standards, node-jose is a great choice.

To explore how jose compares with these alternatives, check out the comparison: Comparing jose vs jsonwebtoken vs jwa vs jws vs node-jose.

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 node-jose

node-jose is a JavaScript library for Node.js that provides tools for working with JSON Web Tokens (JWT) and JSON Object Signing and Encryption (JOSE). It allows developers to create, verify, and manipulate JWTs and other JOSE-related structures easily. This library is particularly useful for applications that require secure data transmission and authentication mechanisms. While node-jose is a robust solution for handling JOSE, there are several alternatives available in the ecosystem. Here are a few notable ones:

  • crypto is a built-in Node.js module that provides cryptographic functionality, including a set of wrappers for OpenSSL's hash, HMAC, cipher, decipher, sign, and verify functions. While it does not specifically focus on JOSE or JWT, it can be used to implement custom cryptographic operations. If you need low-level cryptographic capabilities or are building a solution that requires more than just JWT handling, the crypto module is a solid choice.
  • jose is a modern library for handling JSON Web Tokens and JOSE, designed to be lightweight and efficient. It supports a wide range of algorithms and provides a straightforward API for creating and verifying JWTs. If you are looking for a more modern and actively maintained alternative to node-jose, jose is an excellent option that offers similar functionality with a focus on performance and simplicity.
  • jsonwebtoken is a widely used library for creating and verifying JSON Web Tokens. It is simple to use and provides a straightforward API for handling JWTs. If your primary need is to work with JWTs specifically, jsonwebtoken is a popular choice among developers due to its ease of use and extensive documentation.
  • node-forge is a comprehensive library that provides various cryptographic tools, including support for TLS, PKI, and cryptographic algorithms. While it is more extensive than just a JWT library, it can be used to implement JOSE and JWT functionalities. If you require a broader set of cryptographic capabilities beyond just JWT handling, node-forge is a versatile option.

To explore how these libraries compare, check out the comparison: Comparing crypto vs jose vs jsonwebtoken vs node-forge vs node-jose.

README for jws

node-jws Build Status

An implementation of JSON Web Signatures.

This was developed against draft-ietf-jose-json-web-signature-08 and implements the entire spec except X.509 Certificate Chain signing/verifying (patches welcome).

There are both synchronous (jws.sign, jws.verify) and streaming (jws.createSign, jws.createVerify) APIs.

Install

$ npm install jws

Usage

jws.ALGORITHMS

Array of supported algorithms. The following algorithms are currently supported.

alg Parameter ValueDigital Signature or MAC Algorithm
HS256HMAC using SHA-256 hash algorithm
HS384HMAC using SHA-384 hash algorithm
HS512HMAC using SHA-512 hash algorithm
RS256RSASSA using SHA-256 hash algorithm
RS384RSASSA using SHA-384 hash algorithm
RS512RSASSA using SHA-512 hash algorithm
PS256RSASSA-PSS using SHA-256 hash algorithm
PS384RSASSA-PSS using SHA-384 hash algorithm
PS512RSASSA-PSS using SHA-512 hash algorithm
ES256ECDSA using P-256 curve and SHA-256 hash algorithm
ES384ECDSA using P-384 curve and SHA-384 hash algorithm
ES512ECDSA using P-521 curve and SHA-512 hash algorithm
noneNo digital signature or MAC value included

jws.sign(options)

(Synchronous) Return a JSON Web Signature for a header and a payload.

Options:

  • header
  • payload
  • secret or privateKey
  • encoding (Optional, defaults to 'utf8')

header must be an object with an alg property. header.alg must be one a value found in jws.ALGORITHMS. See above for a table of supported algorithms.

If payload is not a buffer or a string, it will be coerced into a string using JSON.stringify.

Example

const signature = jws.sign({
  header: { alg: 'HS256' },
  payload: 'h. jon benjamin',
  secret: 'has a van',
});

jws.verify(signature, algorithm, secretOrKey)

(Synchronous) Returns true or false for whether a signature matches a secret or key.

signature is a JWS Signature. header.alg must be a value found in jws.ALGORITHMS. See above for a table of supported algorithms. secretOrKey is a string or buffer containing either the secret for HMAC algorithms, or the PEM encoded public key for RSA and ECDSA.

Note that the "alg" value from the signature header is ignored.

jws.decode(signature)

(Synchronous) Returns the decoded header, decoded payload, and signature parts of the JWS Signature.

Returns an object with three properties, e.g.

{ header: { alg: 'HS256' },
  payload: 'h. jon benjamin',
  signature: 'YOWPewyGHKu4Y_0M_vtlEnNlqmFOclqp4Hy6hVHfFT4'
}

jws.createSign(options)

Returns a new SignStream object.

Options:

  • header (required)
  • payload
  • key || privateKey || secret
  • encoding (Optional, defaults to 'utf8')

Other than header, all options expect a string or a buffer when the value is known ahead of time, or a stream for convenience. key/privateKey/secret may also be an object when using an encrypted private key, see the crypto documentation.

Example:


// This...
jws.createSign({
  header: { alg: 'RS256' },
  privateKey: privateKeyStream,
  payload: payloadStream,
}).on('done', function(signature) {
  // ...
});

// is equivalent to this:
const signer = jws.createSign({
  header: { alg: 'RS256' },
});
privateKeyStream.pipe(signer.privateKey);
payloadStream.pipe(signer.payload);
signer.on('done', function(signature) {
  // ...
});

jws.createVerify(options)

Returns a new VerifyStream object.

Options:

  • signature
  • algorithm
  • key || publicKey || secret
  • encoding (Optional, defaults to 'utf8')

All options expect a string or a buffer when the value is known ahead of time, or a stream for convenience.

Example:


// This...
jws.createVerify({
  publicKey: pubKeyStream,
  signature: sigStream,
}).on('done', function(verified, obj) {
  // ...
});

// is equivilant to this:
const verifier = jws.createVerify();
pubKeyStream.pipe(verifier.publicKey);
sigStream.pipe(verifier.signature);
verifier.on('done', function(verified, obj) {
  // ...
});

Class: SignStream

A Readable Stream that emits a single data event (the calculated signature) when done.

Event: 'done'

function (signature) { }

signer.payload

A Writable Stream that expects the JWS payload. Do not use if you passed a payload option to the constructor.

Example:

payloadStream.pipe(signer.payload);

signer.secret
signer.key
signer.privateKey

A Writable Stream. Expects the JWS secret for HMAC, or the privateKey for ECDSA and RSA. Do not use if you passed a secret or key option to the constructor.

Example:

privateKeyStream.pipe(signer.privateKey);

Class: VerifyStream

This is a Readable Stream that emits a single data event, the result of whether or not that signature was valid.

Event: 'done'

function (valid, obj) { }

valid is a boolean for whether or not the signature is valid.

verifier.signature

A Writable Stream that expects a JWS Signature. Do not use if you passed a signature option to the constructor.

verifier.secret
verifier.key
verifier.publicKey

A Writable Stream that expects a public key or secret. Do not use if you passed a key or secret option to the constructor.

TODO

  • It feels like there should be some convenience options/APIs for defining the algorithm rather than having to define a header object with { alg: 'ES512' } or whatever every time.

  • X.509 support, ugh

License

MIT

Copyright (c) 2013-2015 Brian J. Brennan

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a
copy of this software and associated documentation files (the
"Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including
without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish,
distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to
permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to
the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included
in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND
NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE
LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION
OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION
WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
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