---
title: Private Key JWT
description: "Authenticate with ZITADEL's token introspection endpoint using Private Key JWT to validate access tokens"
sidebar_label: Private Key JWT
---

import IntrospectionResponse from './_introspection-response.mdx';

This guide explains how to use ZITADEL's [Private Key JWT authentication method](/apis/openidoauth/authn-methods#jwt-with-private-key) to authenticate your application and call the token introspection endpoint. This is not about securing an API, but about allowing your backend to introspect access tokens in a secure way.

If you're looking to set up Private Key JWT authentication specifically for Service Accounts, see our dedicated guide [here](/guides/integrate/service-accounts/private-key-jwt).

## Register an Application & Generate a Key Pair

To use Private Key JWT for introspection, you must register your client application in ZITADEL and create a key pair. This process enables your application to obtain credentials needed to generate JWT assertions for authentication.

1. In your ZITADEL project, click **New** to add an application.

<img
    src="/docs/img/guides/integrate/token-introspection-jwt-profile-1.png"
    width="75%"
    alt="Register the app"
/>

2. Enter a name (e.g., "Backend Client") and select **API** as the application type.

<img
    src="/docs/img/guides/integrate/token-introspection-jwt-profile-2.png"
    width="75%"
    alt="Set application type"
/>

3. Choose **JWT** as the authentication method and click **Continue**.

<img
    src="/docs/img/guides/integrate/token-introspection-jwt-profile-3.png"
    width="75%"
    alt="Choose JWT Profile"
/>

4. Review your settings and click **Create**.

<img
    src="/docs/img/guides/integrate/token-introspection-jwt-profile-4.png"
    width="75%"
    alt="Create application"
/>

5. After creation, you’ll see the application’s **Client ID**. There is no client secret—instead, authentication relies on your private key and JWT.

<img
    src="/docs/img/guides/integrate/token-introspection-jwt-profile-5.png"
    width="75%"
    alt="Client ID"
/>

6. To generate a key pair, click **New** under the application’s keys section.

<img
    src="/docs/img/guides/integrate/token-introspection-jwt-profile-6.png"
    width="75%"
    alt="Generate a new key"
/>

7. Select **JSON** as the key type, set an expiration if desired, and click **Add**.

<img
    src="/docs/img/guides/integrate/token-introspection-jwt-profile-7.png"
    width="75%"
    alt="Key details"
/>

8. Download and save the generated key by clicking **Download**. Afterward, click **Close**.

<img
    src="/docs/img/guides/integrate/token-introspection-jwt-profile-8.png"
    width="75%"
    alt="Download key"
/>

9. The downloaded key file will look like this:

```
{
  "type": "application",
  "keyId": "<YOUR_KEY_ID>",
  "key": "-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----\n<YOUR_PRIVATE_KEY>\n-----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----\n",
  "appId": "<YOUR_APP_ID>",
  "clientId": "<YOUR_CLIENT_ID>"
}
```

10. In the left menu, select **URLs** to view the application’s OIDC endpoints. Note the **issuer** URL, **token_endpoint**, and **introspection_endpoint**.

<img
    src="/docs/img/guides/integrate/token-introspection-jwt-profile-10.png"
    width="75%"
    alt="OIDC Endpoints"
/>

11. Optionally, note your **Project ID** for reference.

<img
    src="/docs/img/guides/integrate/token-introspection-jwt-profile-11.png"
    width="75%"
    alt="Project ID"
/>

## Calling the Introspection Endpoint

To introspect an access token in ZITADEL, your backend must authenticate by providing a JWT (`client_assertion`) signed with your application's private key. ZITADEL verifies this JWT to ensure the request is from a trusted application.

**Required request parameters:**

| **Parameter**            | **Description**                                                                                                       |
|------------------------- |---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| `client_assertion`       | The JWT assertion created and signed as described below.                                                            |
| `client_assertion_type`  | Must be `urn:ietf:params:oauth:client-assertion-type:jwt-bearer`                                                    |
| `token`                  | The access token you want to introspect.                                                                            |

### Creating the Client Assertion (JWT)

The `client_assertion` parameter is a signed JWT with the following structure:

**Header:**
```json
{
  "alg": "RS256",
  "kid": "<YOUR_KEY_ID>"
}
```

**Payload:**
```json
{
  "iss": "<YOUR_CLIENT_ID>",
  "sub": "<YOUR_CLIENT_ID>",
  "aud": "https://${YOUR_DOMAIN}",        // Your ZITADEL issuer URL
  "exp": 1605183582,                     // Expiry (Unix timestamp)
  "iat": 1605179982                      // Issued at (Unix timestamp, not older than 1 hour)
}
```

- `iss` and `sub`: Your application’s Client ID.
- `aud`: The issuer URL for your ZITADEL instance (e.g. `https://my-tenant.zitadel.cloud`).
- `exp`: JWT expiration time (seconds since epoch).
- `iat`: JWT issued at time (seconds since epoch), must not be older than 1 hour.

You can generate the signed JWT using libraries in your preferred language or helper tools like [zitadel-tools](https://github.com/zitadel/zitadel-tools) or [https://dinochiesa.github.io/jwt/](https://dinochiesa.github.io/jwt/).

### Example Introspection HTTP Request

Make a POST request to the introspection endpoint, sending the above parameters:

```bash
curl --request POST \
  --url ${YOUR_DOMAIN}/oauth/v2/introspect \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded' \
  --data client_assertion_type=urn:ietf:params:oauth:client-assertion-type:jwt-bearer \
  --data client_assertion=eyJhbGciOiJSUzI1Ni... \
  --data token=VjVxyCZmRmWYqd3_F5db9Pb9mHR
```

### Python Example

Below is a Python function that generates the JWT assertion and performs token introspection:

```python
def introspect_token(token_string):
    # Build JWT for client assertion
    payload = {
        "iss": API_KEY_FILE["clientId"],
        "sub": API_KEY_FILE["clientId"],
        "aud": ZITADEL_ISSUER_URL,
        "exp": int(time.time()) + 60 * 60,  # expires in 1 hour
        "iat": int(time.time())
    }
    headers = {
        "alg": "RS256",
        "kid": API_KEY_FILE["keyId"]
    }
    jwt_token = jwt.encode(payload, API_KEY_FILE["key"], algorithm="RS256", headers=headers)

    req_headers = {"Content-Type": "application/x-www-form-urlencoded"}
    req_data = {
        "client_assertion_type": "urn:ietf:params:oauth:client-assertion-type:jwt-bearer",
        "client_assertion": jwt_token,
        "token": token_string
    }
    response = requests.post(ZITADEL_INTROSPECTION_ENDPOINT, headers=req_headers, data=req_data)
    response.raise_for_status()
    token_data = response.json()
    print(f"Token data from introspection: {token_data}")
    return token_data
```

## Introspection Response

<IntrospectionResponse components={props.components} />

For more details and a complete working example, see this [tutorial](https://github.com/zitadel/examples-api-access-and-token-introspection/tree/main/api-jwt) on registering an application in ZITADEL and calling the introspection endpoint with a JWT assertion.