Which authentication method allows token-based authentication without maintaining session state?

The correct choice is token-based authentication through JWT (JSON Web Tokens), which stands out due to its stateless nature. JWTs are designed to facilitate the transmission of information securely between parties as a JSON object. They are often used in authentication processes, allowing identity verification and data integrity without requiring the server to store session information.

When a user logs in, the server generates a JWT that includes claims (user data) and signs it using a secret key. This token is then sent to the client and can be used for subsequent requests. The server can verify the token's authenticity and validate the claims without needing to access a session store, thereby eliminating the need for session state management. This is particularly beneficial for scalability since the server does not need to track user sessions.

Other methods mentioned, such as OAuth 2.0 and OIDC (OpenID Connect), are frameworks and protocols that often utilize JWT as part of their specification. While they facilitate authentication and authorization processes, they do not inherently function as standalone methods maintaining a stateless nature without session state. Basic authentication, on the other hand, relies on sending user credentials with each request, which involves maintaining session information on the server to ensure security, further differentiating it from token-based methods like JWT