The provided text introduces PASETO (Platform-Agnostic Security Tokens) as a modern and more secure alternative to JSON Web Tokens (JWTs), focusing on its design principles for creating secure, stateless tokens for web applications. The author explains the structure of PASETOs, detailing their version, purpose (local or public), payload, and optional footer. It clarifies how local (symmetric) and public (asymmetric) PASETOs function, including encryption and digital signatures, and their respective use cases. The text also covers PASETO claims and highlights the security advantages of PASETO over JWT, emphasizing its developer-first approach and clearer guidelines to prevent common security missteps.