Secure authentication in e-government 2.0: a comparative analysis of traditional session-based and modern jwt-based authentication

In the era of e-Government 2.0, the security of web applications is paramount, particularly in terms of user authentication. This article provides a comprehensive examination of two primary authentication methods: session-based authentication and JSON Web Token (JWT)-based authentication. It begins by discussing the foundational aspects of secure authentication, emphasizing its importance in e-Government platforms. The article then delves into the mechanics of session-based authentication, highlighting its reliance on server-side session management and the associated challenges. In contrast, JWT-based authentication is explored in depth, showcasing its stateless nature, structure, and the advantages of using access and refresh tokens in theory and also in practice. Through a detailed code example in Express.js, the article demonstrates the implementation of JWT-based authentication in a web application. The analysis concludes by summarizing the benefits of JWT, including enhanced security, scalability, and improved user experience, making it a suitable choice for modern e-Government applications.