Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (ENCOR) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The correct answer identifies the payload as the specific layer of a JSON Web Token (JWT) that contains user data and claims. The payload is a crucial component of the JWT structure, which is typically divided into three parts: the header, the payload, and the signature.

The payload holds the information about the user and the claims being made, which can include standard claims such as `iat` (issued at), `exp` (expiration), `sub` (subject), as well as custom claims that may provide additional details relevant to the application context. This data is usually formatted in JSON and can be utilized by applications to convey necessary information about the user's identity and associated permissions.

While the header contains metadata about the token structure, such as the type of token and the signing algorithm, and the signature is used to verify the token's integrity and authenticity, neither of these components holds the actual data pertaining to the user or claims. Therefore, the payload serves as the central element for transmitting user-related information in a JWT.