JWT Authentication with RSA Keys in Java

Modern web applications require secure, stateless authentication to protect sensitive user data and API endpoints. Understanding how to implement JSON Web Tokens (JWT) using asymmetric cryptography is a fundamental skill for any backend developer. This text-based course guides you through the core concepts of token-based authentication, teaching you how to generate, sign, and validate JWTs using RSA key pairs in Java. What you'll learn: - Understand the core architecture of JSON Web Tokens, including headers, payloads, and signatures. - Generate and manage RSA public and private key pairs for asymmetric encryption in Java. - Implement secure token signing and verification workflows to protect web endpoints. - Configure token expiration, custom claims, and validation rules to prevent unauthorized access. - Apply modern security best practices including basic token rotation concepts. The course begins with foundational definitions of cryptography and token-based security before walking you through written, step-by-step Java code implementations. You will practice by reading through secure code patterns, analyzing configuration scenarios, and solving conceptual exercises. This course is designed for beginner Java developers and web backend enthusiasts who want to learn secure authentication from scratch, with no prior cryptography experience required. Start reading today to build reliable, token-secured Java applications.