Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

The Unsplash API VS JSON Web Token

Compare The Unsplash API VS JSON Web Token and see what are their differences

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The Unsplash API logo The Unsplash API

No-limits, do-what-you-want API for access to 200K+ HD pics.

JSON Web Token logo JSON Web Token

JSON Web Tokens are an open, industry standard RFC 7519 method for representing claims securely between two parties.
  • The Unsplash API Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-20
  • JSON Web Token Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-19

The Unsplash API features and specs

  • High-Quality Images
    Unsplash offers a diverse collection of high-quality, curated photos that can enhance the visual appeal of applications and websites.
  • Free to Use
    The API allows developers to access a wide range of images for free, which is beneficial for startups and developers with limited budgets.
  • Documentation
    The Unsplash API comes with comprehensive and easy-to-understand documentation, making the integration process smoother for developers.
  • Search Functionality
    The API provides robust search and filtering options, allowing developers to find specific images based on keywords, color, and other parameters.
  • Regular Updates
    Unsplash regularly updates its image library, ensuring a fresh supply of content for developers to access and utilize.

Possible disadvantages of The Unsplash API

  • Rate Limiting
    The API imposes rate limits, which can restrict the number of requests made in a given time frame, potentially affecting applications with high demands.
  • Attribution Requirement
    Developers are required to provide proper attribution to photographers, which may not align seamlessly with the design or user experience of some applications.
  • Limited Image Types
    The platform primarily focuses on stock photography and may not provide specialized or niche images needed for certain project requirements.
  • Potential for Quality Variation
    While most images are high-quality, the open nature of the platform means there might be some variance in image quality and style.
  • Dependency on Third-Party
    Relying on an external API means any downtime or changes in the API can impact the application’s functionality and user experience.

JSON Web Token features and specs

  • Stateless
    Since JWTs are self-contained, they do not require server-side sessions, enabling stateless authentication and reducing server memory usage.
  • Scalability
    JWTs can easily be used in distributed systems and microservices architectures due to their stateless nature, facilitating horizontal scaling.
  • Decentralized Issuance
    Multiple issuers can create and sign their own tokens, allowing for more decentralized and flexible authentication mechanisms.
  • Performance
    JWTs eliminate the need for database lookups during authenticating requests, as the token contains all the necessary information, which can lead to performance improvements.
  • Cross-domain and Mobile Compatible
    JWTs are widely supported by different platforms and can easily be used in cross-domain situations and with mobile applications.
  • Security
    JWTs can be signed and optionally encrypted, ensuring the authenticity and integrity of the data they carry.

Possible disadvantages of JSON Web Token

  • Size
    JWTs tend to be larger than session IDs, which can increase the amount of data transmitted during requests.
  • Expiration Handling
    Managing token expiration can be complex. Once a token is issued, it remains valid until it expires or is explicitly revoked.
  • No Built-in Revocation
    Unlike sessions, JWTs cannot be easily revoked server-side, making it difficult to immediately invalidate tokens without additional mechanisms.
  • Security Risks
    If a JWT is intercepted or compromised, it can be used until it expires. Thus, it should be properly secured and transmitted over HTTPS.
  • Token Overhead
    Embedding too much information in the token payload can lead to performance overhead and potential data exposure risks.
  • Complexity
    Implementing JWT correctly requires a thorough understanding of security practices and token lifecycle management, which can add complexity to the system.

Analysis of JSON Web Token

Overall verdict

  • JWT is a widely-accepted standard used for securely transmitting information between parties as a JSON object. It is a good choice for scenarios where security and scalability are primary concerns. However, it also requires careful implementation to ensure security, especially when dealing with sensitive information.

Why this product is good

  • JSON Web Token (JWT) is a compact, URL-safe means of representing claims to be transferred between two parties. The claims in a JWT are encoded as a JSON object that is used as the payload of a JSON Web Signature (JWS) structure or as the plaintext of a JSON Web Encryption (JWE) structure, enabling the claims to be digitally signed or integrity protected with a Message Authentication Code (MAC) and/or encrypted.

Recommended for

  • Stateless authentication
  • Distributed systems
  • Microservices architecture
  • Applications needing scalable, self-contained access tokens
  • Browser-based applications

The Unsplash API videos

Using the Unsplash API - Tutorial

JSON Web Token videos

JSON Web Tokens Suck - Randall Degges (DevNet Create 2018)

More videos:

  • Review - JSON Web Tokens with Public Key Signatures
  • Review - RFC 7519 JSON Web Token (JWT), Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to The Unsplash API and JSON Web Token)
APIs
100 100%
0% 0
Identity Provider
0 0%
100% 100
Web App
100 100%
0% 0
Identity And Access Management

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, JSON Web Token should be more popular than The Unsplash API. It has been mentiond 301 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

The Unsplash API mentions (31)

  • A Weather Clock (with Alarms) for ESP32 / Raspberry Pi Pico Implemented with Arduino Framework
    ... // ##### // # you will need to either // # . Enable and complete the following "secret" block // # . Or create and complete the "secret" block in the file `_secret.h` // ##### #if false // ---------------------- // !!! "secret" block !!! // ---------------------- // // ***** // * you can setup WIFI_SSID / WIFI_PASSWORD; for ESP32, if WIFI_SSID not defined, will use WiFiManager to get WiFi SSID and... - Source: dev.to / 29 days ago
  • Show HN: A pure WebGL image editor with filters, crop and perspective correction
    Nice. I tried it with an image from Unsplash. Maybe you can use the Unsplash API[1] to give people an example to play with. [1]: https://unsplash.com/developers. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • Connecting AI Agent with UI - State Management🧩
    Unsplash Account - it's free Now to generate images based on your prompts, create an account in unsplash, and create your new application and access api key token to fetch the images through url, which hepls to generate images based on the url encoding, which will be handled through the state management. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • 20 Free APIs to Kickstart Your Side Projects
    Use it for: Stunning blog visuals, photography apps, or creative portfolios. Https://unsplash.com/developers. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • Show HN: AI-generated images that look like real life
    [1]: https://unsplash.com/developers. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
View more

JSON Web Token mentions (301)

  • OAuth or JWT? Everything Developers Need to Know in 2025
    ​Security Considerations • JWT o Always use HTTPS to prevent token interception o Set short expiration times o Avoid storing sensitive data in the token • OAuth o Always validate redirect URIs o Implement proper token revocation o Consider using PKCE for public clients References • The Ultimate Guide to Implementing Authentication in JavaScript Applications • OAuth 2.0 – RFC 6749 • JWT.io –... - Source: dev.to / 21 days ago
  • Guide to JWT API Authentication
    Jwt.io is a great playground to get used to working with JWTs. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Verifying Cognito access tokens - Comparing three JWT packages for Lambda authorizers
    The Lambda authorizer code decodes and verifies the token, and its business logic determines whether the request should proceed to the backend or be denied. Cognito access tokens are JSON Web Tokens (JWTs), and to simplify our coding, we might opt for an external package to handle token verification. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Authentication and Authorization Best Practices in ASP.NET Core
    You can decode the created JWT token using JWT IO web site to see what's inside. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • How To Use JWT Token In React JS
    JWT.io – A great resource to decode, verify, and generate JWT tokens. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing The Unsplash API and JSON Web Token, you can also consider the following products

API List - A collective list of APIs. Build something.

Auth0 - Auth0 is a program for people to get authentication and authorization services for their own business use.

Unsplash - Unsplash is a website with high-quality free HD images. It has a catalog of more than three hundred thousand striking images that are neatly organized with tags. Read more about Unsplash.

Firebase Authentication - Application and Data, Application Utilities, and User Management and Authentication

PublicAPIs - Explore the largest API directory in the galaxy

Spring Security - The Spring portfolio has many projects, including Spring Framework, Spring IO Platform, Spring Cloud, Spring Boot, Spring Data, Spring Security...