What does JWT stand for in the context of API security?

In the context of API security, JWT stands for JSON Web Token. This is a widely used open standard (RFC 7519) that allows the secure transmission of information between parties as a JSON object. It is particularly popular for authentication and information exchange because it can be verified and trusted due to its digital signature.

JWTs are compact and URL-safe, making them ideal for passing around in web applications. They consist of three parts: the header, payload, and signature. The header typically indicates the type of token and the signing algorithm, the payload contains the claims (information about the user and metadata), and the signature is used to verify that the sender of the JWT is who it claims to be and to ensure that the message wasn't changed along the way.

Other options such as "Java Web Token," "Joint Web Technology," and "JavaScript Web Tool" do not accurately represent the established terminology for this authentication method. JSON, which is short for JavaScript Object Notation, is the correct framework that JWT is built upon, emphasizing the significance of lightweight data interchange in web applications.