Most developers think logout = deleting the token. I used to think the same… until I realized something scary JWT is stateless. Even after logout, the token is still valid until it expires. That means: If someone steals your token, they can still access your system So what does “logout” actually mean in real-world systems? Here are 2 common approaches: Token Blacklisting → Store invalid tokens (DB/Redis) and reject them on every request Short-lived tokens + Refresh tokens (industry standard) → Access token expires quickly (limits risk window) → Refresh token controls session securely While working on authentication systems, this completely changed how I think about backend security. Security is not just about login — logout matters too. What approach do you prefer: Blacklisting or Refresh Tokens? #webdevelopment #backend #nodejs #javascript #security #jwt #softwareengineering #programming #hiring
Insightful post! I definitely prefer the Short-lived + Refresh Token approach. It balances security with performance without having to hit the database for every single request like blacklisting does.
This is such an important point! Many developers overlook the fact that JWTs remain valid even after logout. Short-lived access tokens with refresh token rotation definitely seem like the most secure and scalable approach. Great insight 👏
Thanks for sharing this insightful perspective. It's appreciated.