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What is the difference between session storage and token-based authentication?

Mid PHP
Quick Answer Sessions store data on the server linked to a session ID cookie. Token-based auth (like JWT) stores the auth state in the token itself - stateless. Sessions work well for traditional server-rendered apps. Tokens work better for APIs and mobile apps since no server-side state is needed. Tokens are portable across services; sessions are tied to one server (or shared storage).

Answer

Sessions store user state on the server. Token-based auth (like JWT) stores authentication data client-side and is stateless, ideal for APIs and distributed systems.
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