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djangorestframework-jwt

JSON Web Token based authentication for Django REST framework

djangorestframework-jwt v1.11.0 230.2K downloads/30d#9,115 on PyPI3,167
Permissive license MIT Abandoned released

What it is and what it does

This package integrates JWT-based authentication into Django REST Framework, allowing you to issue and validate JSON Web Tokens for stateless API authentication. Instead of session-based auth, clients receive a token on login and include it in subsequent requests, making it suitable for mobile apps, single-page applications, and microservices.

The package was last released on 2017-06-23 and is now archived. It was designed for Django 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11 and Django REST Framework 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, supporting Python 2.7, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5. No runtime dependencies means easy installation, but the lack of maintenance since the latest release raises concerns about security vulnerabilities and compatibility with modern tooling.

Use it for:

  • Adding JWT authentication to a legacy Django REST Framework API built before 2017.
  • Issuing bearer tokens to mobile or web clients that need stateless authentication without sessions.
  • Implementing token refresh and expiration logic for time-limited API access in older Django projects.
  • Migrating from session-based to token-based authentication in a Django REST Framework application.
  • Securing API endpoints with JWT validation in a microservices architecture using older Django versions.

Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying

Adds JSON Web Token (JWT) authentication support to Django REST Framework, enabling token-based API authentication for Django applications.

No. This package is abandoned (latest release 2017-06-23, repository archived) and unsupported for modern Django and Python versions. Security patches are unlikely, and compatibility with current tooling is not guaranteed. For new projects or modern stacks, use an actively maintained JWT authentication package. For legacy systems still on the supported versions, evaluate whether upgrading is feasible before committing to this unmaintained dependency.

Install

djangorestframework-jwt on PyPI

pip

pip install djangorestframework-jwt

uv

uv add djangorestframework-jwt

poetry

poetry add djangorestframework-jwt

Installing djangorestframework-jwt

Before you install

Installation is straightforward with no runtime dependencies, but the package is abandoned as of the latest release in 2017 with no updates since. The repository is archived and no longer maintained, which poses a significant risk for security patches or compatibility with modern versions.

License in practice

Licensed under MIT (permissive), so you can use, modify, and distribute it freely with minimal restrictions, though you must retain the license notice.

Quickstart

pip install djangorestframework-jwt

from djangorestframework_jwt.views import obtain_jwt_token

# Add to Django URL configuration
urlpatterns = [
    path('api-token-auth/', obtain_jwt_token),
]

Requires Django (1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11) and Django REST Framework (3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5); compatibility with modern versions is not guaranteed.

Verify before relying

  • Whether this package works with Django versions beyond 1.11 and Python versions beyond 3.5.
  • Security implications of using an abandoned package in production environments.
  • Whether the package has been superseded by an actively maintained alternative.

Package facts

License MIT (permissive)
Python support not specified
Install friction low — pure-Python wheel
Runtime dependencies none
Maintenance abandoned — 3,339 days since the last release
Last repo commit (repository archived)
First released
Downloads 230,199/month — #9,115 on PyPI (30-day window, as of 2026-08-14)
Known vulnerabilities none known (OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14)

Evidence: djangorestframework_jwt-1.11.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl

Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableEnvironment :: Web EnvironmentFramework :: DjangoIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 2Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Topic :: Internet :: WWW/HTTP

Tags

jwt authentication django rest frameworktoken based api auth djangojson web token djangodjango rest framework jwtstateless api authentication djangobearer token authentication djangojwt django rest api
authenticationjwtarchived

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