DRF authentication (Token, JWT) in Django

Introduction

Authentication helps check who a user is before giving access. Token and JWT are ways to do this safely in Django REST Framework.

You want users to log in once and use a token to access your API without sending username and password every time.

You need to protect API endpoints so only logged-in users can see or change data.

You want a simple way to manage user sessions without cookies or server-side sessions.

You want to build a mobile app or frontend that talks to your Django backend securely.

You want to use stateless authentication that works well with modern web apps.

Syntax

Django

from rest_framework.authentication import TokenAuthentication
from rest_framework_simplejwt.authentication import JWTAuthentication

# In your Django settings.py
REST_FRAMEWORK = {
    'DEFAULT_AUTHENTICATION_CLASSES': [
        'rest_framework.authentication.TokenAuthentication',  # For Token auth
        'rest_framework_simplejwt.authentication.JWTAuthentication',  # For JWT auth
    ],
}

TokenAuthentication uses a simple token string to identify users.

JWTAuthentication uses JSON Web Tokens that include encoded user info and expiry.

Examples

This view uses TokenAuthentication to check the user token sent in headers.

Django

# Token Authentication example
from rest_framework.authentication import TokenAuthentication
from rest_framework.views import APIView
from rest_framework.response import Response

class MyView(APIView):
    authentication_classes = [TokenAuthentication]

    def get(self, request):
        return Response({'message': 'Hello, token user!'})

This view uses JWTAuthentication to check the JWT token sent in headers.

Django

# JWT Authentication example
from rest_framework_simplejwt.authentication import JWTAuthentication
from rest_framework.views import APIView
from rest_framework.response import Response

class MyView(APIView):
    authentication_classes = [JWTAuthentication]

    def get(self, request):
        return Response({'message': 'Hello, JWT user!'})

Sample Program

This API view requires a valid token to access. It greets the logged-in user by name.

Django

from rest_framework.views import APIView
from rest_framework.response import Response
from rest_framework.authentication import TokenAuthentication
from rest_framework.permissions import IsAuthenticated

class HelloTokenView(APIView):
    authentication_classes = [TokenAuthentication]
    permission_classes = [IsAuthenticated]

    def get(self, request):
        username = request.user.username
        return Response({'message': f'Hello, {username}! You are authenticated with Token.'})

Important Notes

Tokens must be sent in the HTTP header as Authorization: Token <token> for TokenAuthentication.

JWT tokens are sent as Authorization: Bearer <jwt_token>.

Always keep tokens secret and use HTTPS to protect them in transit.

Summary

Token and JWT are ways to check who is using your API safely.

TokenAuthentication uses simple tokens; JWTAuthentication uses encoded tokens with expiry.

Use authentication classes in your views or settings to protect your API endpoints.

Practice

1. What is the main difference between TokenAuthentication and JWTAuthentication in Django REST Framework?

easy

A. TokenAuthentication uses simple tokens stored on the server; JWTAuthentication uses encoded tokens with expiry.

B. TokenAuthentication requires username and password every request; JWTAuthentication does not.

C. TokenAuthentication encrypts tokens; JWTAuthentication sends tokens as plain text.

D. TokenAuthentication is only for web apps; JWTAuthentication is only for mobile apps.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand TokenAuthentication

   TokenAuthentication uses a simple token string stored on the server and sent by the client to identify the user.

2. Step 2: Understand JWTAuthentication

   JWTAuthentication uses JSON Web Tokens that are encoded, include expiry info, and do not require server storage.

3. Final Answer:

   TokenAuthentication uses simple tokens stored on the server; JWTAuthentication uses encoded tokens with expiry. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Token vs JWT difference = D [OK]

Hint: Token is simple stored string; JWT is encoded with expiry [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking JWT tokens are stored on the server
• Confusing token encryption with encoding
• Assuming TokenAuthentication requires password every request

2. Which of the following is the correct way to add TokenAuthentication to a Django REST Framework view?

easy

A. authentication_classes = ["rest_framework.authentication.TokenAuthentication"]

B. authentication_classes = [TokenAuthentication]

C. authentication_classes = [rest_framework.authentication.TokenAuthentication]

D. authentication_classes = [TokenAuthentication()]

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall how to import and use authentication classes

   Authentication classes must be imported and instantiated, so use TokenAuthentication() not just the class name or string.

2. Step 2: Check syntax for authentication_classes

   It expects a list of authentication class instances, so the correct syntax is [TokenAuthentication()] with parentheses.

3. Final Answer:

   authentication_classes = [TokenAuthentication()] -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Use class instances in list = A [OK]

Hint: Use class instances with parentheses in authentication_classes list [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using strings instead of class instances
• Forgetting parentheses after class name
• Not importing TokenAuthentication before use

3. Given this Django REST Framework view snippet using JWTAuthentication, what will happen if the token is expired?

from rest_framework_simplejwt.authentication import JWTAuthentication
from rest_framework.views import APIView
from rest_framework.response import Response

class MyView(APIView):
    authentication_classes = [JWTAuthentication()]

    def get(self, request):
        return Response({"user": str(request.user)})

medium

A. The request will succeed but request.user will be None.

B. The request will succeed and return the user even if token expired.

C. The request will be denied with a 401 Unauthorized error.

D. The server will crash with an exception.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand JWTAuthentication behavior on expired tokens

   JWTAuthentication checks token expiry and rejects requests with expired tokens by raising an authentication error.

2. Step 2: Effect on the APIView request

   When token is expired, the request is denied with a 401 Unauthorized response automatically by DRF.

3. Final Answer:

   The request will be denied with a 401 Unauthorized error. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Expired JWT causes 401 error = B [OK]

Hint: Expired JWT tokens cause 401 Unauthorized error [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming expired token returns user as None
• Thinking expired token lets request pass
• Expecting server crash on expired token

4. You wrote this code to enable TokenAuthentication but your API always returns 403 Forbidden. What is the likely mistake?

from rest_framework.authentication import TokenAuthentication

class MyView(APIView):
    authentication_classes = [TokenAuthentication]

    def get(self, request):
        return Response({"message": "Hello"})

medium

A. Forgot to add parentheses after TokenAuthentication in authentication_classes.

B. TokenAuthentication is not imported correctly.

C. The get method should be named post.

D. authentication_classes should be a tuple, not a list.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check authentication_classes syntax

   authentication_classes must contain instances, so TokenAuthentication() with parentheses, not the class itself.

2. Step 2: Effect of missing parentheses

   Without parentheses, DRF does not recognize the authentication class properly, causing 403 Forbidden errors.

3. Final Answer:

   Forgot to add parentheses after TokenAuthentication in authentication_classes. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use TokenAuthentication() not TokenAuthentication = C [OK]

Hint: Always instantiate authentication classes with () [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using class name without parentheses
• Confusing 403 with 401 errors
• Changing method name unnecessarily

5. You want to protect an API endpoint so only users with a valid JWT token can access it, and you want tokens to expire after 5 minutes. Which settings and code changes should you apply?

hard

A. Set TOKEN_EXPIRE_TIME = 300 in settings and use TokenAuthentication() in authentication_classes.

B. Set SIMPLE_JWT['ACCESS_TOKEN_LIFETIME'] = timedelta(minutes=5) in settings and use JWTAuthentication() in authentication_classes.

C. Use JWTAuthentication() in authentication_classes and set JWT_EXPIRATION_DELTA = 5 in settings.

D. Use TokenAuthentication() and manually check token age in the view.

Solution

1. Step 1: Configure JWT token expiry

   In Django REST Framework Simple JWT, set ACCESS_TOKEN_LIFETIME to 5 minutes using timedelta in settings.

2. Step 2: Use JWTAuthentication in the view

   Set authentication_classes = [JWTAuthentication()] to enforce JWT token authentication on the endpoint.

3. Final Answer:

   Set SIMPLE_JWT['ACCESS_TOKEN_LIFETIME'] = timedelta(minutes=5) in settings and use JWTAuthentication() in authentication_classes. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   JWT expiry + JWTAuthentication = A [OK]

Hint: Set ACCESS_TOKEN_LIFETIME and use JWTAuthentication() [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using TokenAuthentication instead of JWTAuthentication
• Setting wrong expiry setting names
• Trying to manually check token expiry in views