Creating a personal JWT credential

When you are first getting started it is common to build a private app that will be used only by you to try out the API. The most expedient and convenient way to connect such apps to the platform is to use a personal JWT authentication credential, which we will cover in detail below.

If your application is configured to use the three-legged auth code flow, then a JWT credential is not needed.

What is a JWT auth credential?

The JWT auth flow is a easy-to-implement and secure way to authenticate a user on the RingCentral platform. At a protocol level, a JWT credential operates in the same way that a username and password do:

• An app presents a JWT credential to the Auth API.
• The Auth API responds with an access token.
• The app presents the access token in the Bearer HTTP header in subsequent calls to the API.

In this way, a JWT is not actually and directly associated with an application. JWT credentials belong to users, as users are the ones who authenticate and use the API. The user a JWT credential is associated with in turn determines what features and capabilities can be performed using that credential. For example, if a user Luke does not have permission to edit accounts, and Luke's credential is used to edit an account, then that API call will fail because Luke's account lacks the necessary permission.

Creating a JWT credential

JWT tokens are created exclusively within the RingCentral Developer Console. For this reason, JWT credentials can only be created by users who have a valid developer account or role. To create a JWT used for app authentication, follow these steps:

1. Login to the RingCentral Developer Console. If you do not have access to the Developer Console, please reach out to your account administrator to request access.

2. Hover your mouse over your name in the upper righthand corner, and select "Credentials."

   

3. Click "Create JWT."

   

4. Configure your JWT and click "Create."

   

Configuring the apps permitted to use a credential

Giving someone a JWT credential is akin to you giving someone your username and password, as a JWT credential is, in a sense, a key that unlocks your account via the REST API. In light of this, options have been given to help you protect your credentials and limit the harm they may cause if compromised in some way. When you create a credential you have one of two options:

1. Restrict the credential to be used only by apps within your organization. This is a convenient way to create a single key that can be shared broadly within the trusted confines of a company. It is ideal for developers who work on a lot of private apps and don't want the hassle of having to generate separate credentials for each app.

2. Restrict the credential to be used by a specific list of trusted applications. This is the best and only way to create a credential that can be safely shared with someone outside your company. It is "safe" because you have to explicitly grant an application permission to use it, so even if the credential was compromised, it can't be used to connect to your account easily.

Creating JWT credentials on behalf of others

Developer Admins have the ability to create JWT auth credentials on behalf of other developers. To create a JWT credential for someone else, that person must first login to the Developer Console. Then the admin can:

• Click the "Organization" tab from the Developer Console dashboard
• In the list of developers, click the name of the developer who needs a credential
• Click the "Credentials" tab from the user's profile page
• Create a credential as usual

How to restrict usage of a JWT to an specific application

For added security, especially when you intend to share your JWT with a third-party, we recommend you restrict your JWT to be used with a finite list of apps. To restrict a JWT to be used with only a specific app, you will need to ask the application developer for the client ID of their application.

Then check "Only specific apps of my choice" under "What apps are permitted to use this credential?" and copy and paste the client ID you received into the text field.

Click "Add app." If the app was found, a table will appear showing the current list of apps authorized to use this token.

Click "Create" or "Save."

Next step: building your first application

Having registered an application and obtained auth credentials you are now able to code your first application. In the next section you will have the opportunity to choose from a number of quick start guides associated with a variety of APIs and developer products from RingCentral.

Code your application