> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.ask.edvard.dev/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.ask.edvard.dev/jwt-authentication/protecting-routes.md).

# Protecting Routes

You can protect any route and require a valid token when accessing that route with the `&protected` decorator. You can access the route if you pass in a valid token as a query parameter called token with your request. The server will otherwise respond with 400/401 and "Missing token!" or "Invalid token".

{% hint style="info" %}
The server will also respond with "Invalid token" if the token is expired.
{% endhint %}

```
&protected
@post('/note'):
    respond('Only viewable with a valid token.")

@get('/public'):
    respond('This is viewable without a token.")
```


---

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