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FastAPI is a modern, fast (high-performance), web framework for building APIs with Python 3.7+ based on standard Python type hints. It is designed to be easy to use and to help developers build robust and high-performance APIs quickly. FastAPI is known for its speed, ease of use, and automatic generation of interactive API documentation.
When working with FastAPI, you might encounter an error related to authentication tokens. The symptom of this issue is typically an HTTP 401 Unauthorized error, indicating that the authentication token provided in the request is either invalid or expired.
The error message might look like this:
{"detail": "Invalid authentication credentials"}
Authentication tokens are used to verify the identity of a user or service. In FastAPI, these tokens are often implemented using JSON Web Tokens (JWT). An invalid or expired token can occur due to several reasons:
Tokens have a limited lifespan for security reasons. Once expired, they need to be refreshed or regenerated. This is a common cause of the 'Invalid Authentication Token' error.
To resolve this issue, follow these steps:
Ensure that the token is still valid. You can decode the token using a tool like JWT.io to check its expiry date and claims.
If the token is expired, you will need to generate a new one. This typically involves re-authenticating the user and issuing a new token. Ensure your authentication service is correctly configured to handle token generation.
Ensure that the token is included in the request header correctly. It should be in the format:
Authorization: Bearer <your_token>
Make sure there are no typos or missing parts in the header.
Review your application's token handling logic. Ensure that tokens are being refreshed before they expire and that the application gracefully handles token expiration by redirecting users to re-authenticate.
For more detailed information on handling authentication in FastAPI, refer to the FastAPI Security Documentation. Additionally, consider exploring the Real Python guide on token-based authentication for a broader understanding of token management.
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