Login App – Implement Authentication in React App using Node.js – Part 1
If you’re unsure about implementing Login/Authentication in your React application, you’ve come to the right place. We’re here to provide a comprehensive explanation of the login functionality, helping you understand the login flow and how to implement it seamlessly in your React application. Gain clarity and confidence in implementing Login/Authentication in React with our helpful insights.
To implement authentication in your React application, you can leverage the power of JSON Web Tokens (JWT). The first step is to create a secure and reliable REST API for authentication in Node.js on the backend. This API will handle user authentication, token generation, and verification. On the frontend, in your ReactJS application, you can seamlessly integrate this authentication mechanism by utilizing the REST API endpoints provided by your Node.js backend. This approach ensures a robust and efficient login system for your application, enhancing security and user experience.
We planned to divide this article into three parts.
- Part 1 – Implementation flow (You are here…)
- Part 2 – Create REST API for authentication in Node.js using JWT
- Part 3 – Create login form in ReactJS using secure REST API
In this article, we will focus on the implementation flow and essential requirements only.
To implement login/authentication in a React app using Node.js, both applications (ReactJS and Node.js) should utilize the JWT package. With JWT, JSON web tokens are created in the Node.js application using a secret or private key, and then passed to the ReactJS application.
Divide the whole application in two parts
1. Node.js Application (Backend)
At backend side we have to work on below points.
- Install “jsonwebtoken” package: We will use this package to create token with the help of User primary data and secret or private key. So when we need it then we can decode it and use the user data to manage application logs.
- Create user signin API: We need API where user can get authenticate by passing the login credentials. If user get authenticated successfully then we will create token as mentioned above and return it.
- Verify token API: We need one more API where we can verify the user token. If it’s invalid then we will send “401 Unauthorized” response to the user.
- Implement middleware: We need to implement the middleware so we can verify the token for private routes.
2. ReactJS Application (Frontend)
Follow below points to implement authentication at frontend side in ReactJS Application.
- Implement routing: We need to create react application and implement the routes to manage the redirection.
- Create login form: We have to create login form where we can authenticate the user credentials and redirect them on the private routes if it’s valid. Also we need to store the token (returning from the API response) in localStorage or sessionStorage so we can pass it in the headers of the private API.
- Verify token on page refresh: In single page application, if token is exist in storage then we have to verify access token on browser refresh.
- Append token in private API: After successful login, we need to pass the token in the header of the all private API so at backend side we can validate it. If user token is not exist or invalid the we can redirect them on the login page.
In next article, we’ll create REST API for authentication in Node.js using JWT
In this article, we have covered the general straight forward flow of the authentication. Check out the below article where you will find the more secure way to implement authentication including refresh token and CSRF protection.
That’s it for today.
Thanks for reading. Happy Coding!
