I am starting a CodeLab Series in which I will building something cool and sharing with the community.
Today, We are going to implement Authentication API in Node using JWT, express, and MongoDB.
I advise you to follow the table of content and don't miss any steps. I will provide the full app code link at the end.
Table of Content
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Prerequisites
- 3. Tools and Packages Required
- 4. Initiate Project
- 5. Setup MongoDB Database
- 6. Configure User Model
- 7. User Signup
- 8. User Login
- 9. Get LoggedIn User
- 10. Conclusion
1. Introduction
Authentication - It is a process of identifying user identity.
User Authentication contains various steps, please check out this flowchart to know more. We will be using this flow to build the authentication system in our application.
2. Prerequisites
You should have prior knowledge of javascript basics
, nodejs
. Knowledge of ES6 syntax is a plus. And, at last nodejs should be installed on your system.
3. Packages Required
You will be needing these following 'npm' packages.
express
Express is a minimal and flexible Node.js web application framework that provides a robust set of features for web and mobile applicationsexpress-validator
To Validate the body data on the server in the express framework, we will be using this library. It's a server-side data validation library. So, even if a malicious user bypasses the client-side verification, the server-side data validation will catch it and throw an error.body-parser
It isnodejs
middleware for parsing the body data.bcryptjs
This library will be used to hash the password and then store it to database.This way even app administrators can't access the account of a user.jsonwebtoken
jsonwebtoken will be used to encrypt our data payload on registration and return a token. We can use that token to authenticate ourselves to secured pages like the dashboard. There would also an option to set the validity of those token, so you can specify how much time that token will last.mongoose
Mongoose is a MongoDB object modeling tool designed to work in an asynchronous environment. Mongoose supports both promises and callbacks.
4. Initiate Project
We will start by creating a node project. So, Create a new folder with the name 'node-auth' and follow the steps below. All the project files should be inside the 'node-auth' folder.
npm init
npm init will ask you some basic information about project. Now, you have created the node project, it's time to install the required packages. So, go ahead and install the packages by running the below command.
npm install express express-validator body-parser bcryptjs jsonwebtoken mongoose --save
Now, create a file index.js and add this code.
// File : index.js
const express = require("express");
const bodyParser = require("body-parser");
const app = express();
// PORT
const PORT = process.env.PORT || 4000;
app.get("/", (req, res) => {
res.json({ message: "API Working" });
});
app.listen(PORT, (req, res) => {
console.log(`Server Started at PORT ${PORT}`);
});
If you type node index.js
in the terminal, the server will start at PORT 4000.
You have successfully set up your NodeJS app application. It's time to set up the database to add more functionality.
5. Setup MongoDB Database
We will be using MongoDB Database to store our users. You can use either a cloud MongoDB server or a local MongoDB server.
In this CodeLab, we will be using a Cloud MongoDB server known as mLab.
So, First, go ahead and signup on mLab. And follow the below steps.
After successful signup, Click on Create New Button on home page.
Now, choose any cloud provider for example AWS. In the Plan Type choose the free SandBox and then Click on the Continue button at the bottom right.
Select the region(any) and click continue.
Enter a DB name(any). I am using node-auth. Click continue and then submit the order on the next page. Don't worry it's free of cost.
Now, You will be re-directed to the homepage. Select your DB i.e node-auth.
Copy the standard MongoDB URI.
Now, you need to add a user to your database. From the 5 tabs below, click on Users and add a user by clicking on Add Database User.
Now, you have got your database user. Replace the && with your DB username and password.
mongodb://<dbuser>:<dbpassword>@ds257698.mlab.com:57698/node-auth
So, the Mongo Server Address(MongoURI) should look like this. Don't try to connect on my MongoURI. It's just a dummy username & password. 😄😄
mongodb://test:hello1234@ds257698.mlab.com:57698/node-auth
Now, you have the mongoURI you are ready to connect your node-auth app to the database. Please follow the below steps.
6. Configure User Model
Let's go and first create a config
folder. This folder will keep the database connection information.
Create a file named: db.js in config
//FILENAME : db.js
const mongoose = require("mongoose");
// Replace this with your MONGOURI.
const MONGOURI = "mongodb://testuser:testpassword@ds257698.mlab.com:57698/node-auth";
const InitiateMongoServer = async () => {
try {
await mongoose.connect(MONGOURI, {
useNewUrlParser: true
});
console.log("Connected to DB !!");
} catch (e) {
console.log(e);
throw e;
}
};
module.exports = InitiateMongoServer;
Now, we are done the database connection. Let's create the User Model to save our registered users.
Go ahead and create a new folder named model. Inside the model folder, create a new file User.js.
We will be using mongoose to create UserSchema.
User.js
//FILENAME : User.js
const mongoose = require("mongoose");
const UserSchema = mongoose.Schema({
username: {
type: String,
required: true
},
email: {
type: String,
required: true
},
password: {
type: String,
required: true
},
createdAt: {
type: Date,
default: Date.now()
}
});
// export model user with UserSchema
module.exports = mongoose.model("user", UserSchema);
Now, we are done with Database Connection
, User Schema
. So, let's go ahead and update our index.js to connect our API to the database.
index.js
const express = require("express");
const bodyParser = require("body-parser");
const InitiateMongoServer = require("./config/db");
// Initiate Mongo Server
InitiateMongoServer();
const app = express();
// PORT
const PORT = process.env.PORT || 4000;
// Middleware
app.use(bodyParser.json());
app.get("/", (req, res) => {
res.json({ message: "API Working" });
});
app.listen(PORT, (req, res) => {
console.log(`Server Started at PORT ${PORT}`);
});
Congratulations 😄😄 , You have successfully connected your app to the MongoDB server.
Now, the next thing we have to do is make a /user/signup
route to register a new user. We will see this in the next section.
7. User Signup
The Route for user registration will be '/user/signup'.
Create a folder named routes. In the 'routes' folder, create a file named user.js
routes/user.js
// Filename : user.js
const express = require("express");
const { check, validationResult} = require("express-validator/check");
const bcrypt = require("bcryptjs");
const jwt = require("jsonwebtoken");
const router = express.Router();
const User = require("../model/User");
/**
* @method - POST
* @param - /signup
* @description - User SignUp
*/
router.post(
"/signup",
[
check("username", "Please Enter a Valid Username")
.not()
.isEmpty(),
check("email", "Please enter a valid email").isEmail(),
check("password", "Please enter a valid password").isLength({
min: 6
})
],
async (req, res) => {
const errors = validationResult(req);
if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
return res.status(400).json({
errors: errors.array()
});
}
const {
username,
email,
password
} = req.body;
try {
let user = await User.findOne({
email
});
if (user) {
return res.status(400).json({
msg: "User Already Exists"
});
}
user = new User({
username,
email,
password
});
const salt = await bcrypt.genSalt(10);
user.password = await bcrypt.hash(password, salt);
await user.save();
const payload = {
user: {
id: user.id
}
};
jwt.sign(
payload,
"randomString", {
expiresIn: 10000
},
(err, token) => {
if (err) throw err;
res.status(200).json({
token
});
}
);
} catch (err) {
console.log(err.message);
res.status(500).send("Error in Saving");
}
}
);
module.exports = router;
Now, we have created the user registration in 'routes/user.js'. So, we need to import this in index.js to make it work.
So, the updated index file code should look like this.
index.js
const express = require("express");
const bodyParser = require("body-parser");
const user = require("./routes/user"); //new addition
const InitiateMongoServer = require("./config/db");
// Initiate Mongo Server
InitiateMongoServer();
const app = express();
// PORT
const PORT = process.env.PORT || 4000;
// Middleware
app.use(bodyParser.json());
app.get("/", (req, res) => {
res.json({ message: "API Working" });
});
/**
* Router Middleware
* Router - /user/*
* Method - *
*/
app.use("/user", user);
app.listen(PORT, (req, res) => {
console.log(`Server Started at PORT ${PORT}`);
});
Let's start the user registration using postman. A postman is a tool for API testing.
8. User Login
Now, it's time to implement the Login router which will be mounted on '/user/login'.
Here is the code snippet for login functionality. Add the below code snippet in user.js
router.post(
"/login",
[
check("email", "Please enter a valid email").isEmail(),
check("password", "Please enter a valid password").isLength({
min: 6
})
],
async (req, res) => {
const errors = validationResult(req);
if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
return res.status(400).json({
errors: errors.array()
});
}
const { email, password } = req.body;
try {
let user = await User.findOne({
email
});
if (!user)
return res.status(400).json({
message: "User Not Exist"
});
const isMatch = await bcrypt.compare(password, user.password);
if (!isMatch)
return res.status(400).json({
message: "Incorrect Password !"
});
const payload = {
user: {
id: user.id
}
};
jwt.sign(
payload,
"randomString",
{
expiresIn: 3600
},
(err, token) => {
if (err) throw err;
res.status(200).json({
token
});
}
);
} catch (e) {
console.error(e);
res.status(500).json({
message: "Server Error"
});
}
}
);
9. Get LoggedIn User
Now, your User Signup and User Login is working, and you are getting a token in return.
So, our next task will be to Retrieve the LoggedIn user using the token. Let's go and add this functionality.
The /user/me
route will return your user if you pass the token in the header. In the file route.js, add the below code snippet.
/**
* @method - GET
* @description - Get LoggedIn User
* @param - /user/me
*/
router.get("/me", auth, async (req, res) => {
try {
// request.user is getting fetched from Middleware after token authentication
const user = await User.findById(req.user.id);
res.json(user);
} catch (e) {
res.send({ message: "Error in Fetching user" });
}
});
As you can see, we added the auth middleware as a parameter in the /user/me GET route, so let's define auth function.
Go ahead and create a new folder named middleware. Inside this folder, create a file named auth.js
This auth middleware will be used to verify the token, retrieve user based on the token payload.
middleware/auth.js
const jwt = require("jsonwebtoken");
module.exports = function(req, res, next) {
const token = req.header("token");
if (!token) return res.status(401).json({ message: "Auth Error" });
try {
const decoded = jwt.verify(token, "randomString");
req.user = decoded.user;
next();
} catch (e) {
console.error(e);
res.status(500).send({ message: "Invalid Token" });
}
};
Yayy !! You have successfully created an authentication API in nodejs. Now, You can go ahead and test the /user/me endpoint after logging in.
How to Test the application?
PostMan is required for Testing the API. If you don't have PostMan installed first, install it.
First, register the user or login if you are already registered.
From step 1, you will get a token. Copy that token and put in the header.
Hit Submit
Here is a preview of testing.
10. Conclusion
In this CodeLab - 1, we covered authentication in nodejs using express, jsonwebtoken and MongoDB. We learned about how to write middleware.
Here is the link of full code for this CodeLab: https://github.com/dipakkr/node-auth.
Also, I would love to know what else you want to cover in the next CodeLabs.
I am glad you read till here, Please give some ❤️ ❤️ !!
If you face in problem in running/understanding this application, let me know in the comments. Don't forget to give your feedback. Getting feedback helps me improve.
Subscribe to my email newsletter and stay updated!
I write about new stuff almost daily. Please follow me on Twitter | Instagram
Top comments (74)
I cannot get the test for the signup step to work in postman. I get errors for username, email and password. I have copied exactly what is in the github repo. It is also not adding an entry to the DB.
Old comment, but...
In Postman, go to the 'Headers' tab and set the 'Content-Type' value to 'application/json', by default it sends 'x-www-form-urlencoded'
I was getting the same error. i fixed it by adding
under
index.js ends up looking like this:
I have the same issue "cannot get" I think that everything is well configured in postman and I add this lines suggested but still it didn't work... and I'm testing with the original repo I can connect to my db but I can't get anything with submit
Did you add/replace your username password in MongoURI ?
Yes, it is not a DB connection issue. No errors on the console.
Try running the GitHub clone with your Db username password.
How do you now connect it to a frontend login/signup page?
Hi Eugene,
You can simply call the API using axios or fetch to get data.
Here is a sample code snippet on how you can do it.
I hope this answers your question.
It does, thanks!
Eugene, could you paste the full code oh how to link front end and back end and specify where it should be added
Fantastic article. Covered all major topics - Sign up, Login, Authentication using JWT, MongoDB through this app.
Here are few changes that I had to do as
mLab
is now part of MongoDB family.MongoURI
in the code (config/db.js
)routes/user.js
file, I had to add this line at the end of file.Hope this will help someone like me 😉
Yes, you are right! thanks for sharing !!
This is the process for new users.
POST localhost:3000/undefined/user/regi... 404 (Not Found)
dispatchXhrRequest @ xhr.js:178
xhrAdapter @ xhr.js:12
dispatchRequest @ dispatchRequest.js:52
Promise.then (async)
request @ Axios.js:61
Axios. @ Axios.js:86
wrap @ bind.js:9
sendDetailsToServer @ RegistrationForm.js:28
handleSubmitClick @ RegistrationForm.js:61
callCallback @ react-dom.development.js:188
invokeGuardedCallbackDev @ react-dom.development.js:237
invokeGuardedCallback @ react-dom.development.js:292
invokeGuardedCallbackAndCatchFirstError @ react-dom.development.js:306
executeDispatch @ react-dom.development.js:389
executeDispatchesInOrder @ react-dom.development.js:414
executeDispatchesAndRelease @ react-dom.development.js:3278
executeDispatchesAndReleaseTopLevel @ react-dom.development.js:3287
forEachAccumulated @ react-dom.development.js:3259
runEventsInBatch @ react-dom.development.js:3304
runExtractedPluginEventsInBatch @ react-dom.development.js:3514
handleTopLevel @ react-dom.development.js:3558
batchedEventUpdates$1 @ react-dom.development.js:21871
batchedEventUpdates @ react-dom.development.js:795
dispatchEventForLegacyPluginEventSystem @ react-dom.development.js:3568
attemptToDispatchEvent @ react-dom.development.js:4267
dispatchEvent @ react-dom.development.js:4189
unstable_runWithPriority @ scheduler.development.js:653
runWithPriority$1 @ react-dom.development.js:11039
discreteUpdates$1 @ react-dom.development.js:21887
discreteUpdates @ react-dom.development.js:806
dispatchDiscreteEvent @ react-dom.development.js:4168
RegistrationForm.js:43 Error: Request failed with status code 404
at createError (createError.js:16)
at settle (settle.js:17)
at XMLHttpRequest.handleLoad (xhr.js:61)
HELP ME OUT!
sIGNUP , LOGIN BUTTONS ARENT WORKING .They are showing this error
:):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
i stiill didnt get to know on how you connected front and backend.plz let me now
It's really going to ,cause am having a hard creating the URI from mLab thanks.
Really great article. On the last step in the user.js file I didn't see mentioned to import
const auth = require("./../middleware/auth");
I really just wanted to say thank you for this straight forward step by step tutorial.
Yeah he totally mised that
Nice article, quick and properly demonstrated. just one note. below "secret" is used for token, instead of 'randomString'.
jwt.sign(
payload,
"secret",
{
expiresIn: 3600
},
(err, token) => {
if (err) throw err;
res.status(200).json({
token
});
}
);
Thanks for correcting. I have updated in the code !
Did you just do it in the repo? The blog entry is still showing the previous i believe. The thing is in signup you are using "randomString" whereas in login you are using "secret". The middleware is using "secret" so maybe making all those consistent, or even better moving it to a environment variable, would be better.
Apart from that, lovely blog entry! Thanks!
Thanks @andres for feedback. I have just updated it in the blog post also.
Thank you for the article!
It is better to have one error message
User not exists or Incorrect password
instead of two different because of security.I suggest you to add login brute-force protection with rate-limiter-flexible package. You can read more here
Love the blog, I learned so much.
Will there be a part 2 showing how to use the JWT token to navigate through private pages, such as the user's edit page? I know there's resources out there that show how to do it, but I like your style of code!
Yes, definitely I am writing a series of articles on these.
Feel free to subscribe to get an instant update when I post the blog.
dipakkr.substack.com
Thanks a lot ! I am glad you liked the post.
This article is absolutely fantastic and very timely for me. Everything worked perfectly. I did want to point out one thing in the "/me" function that was confusing but I figured it out. Quick notes in case the screenshot doesn't update:
@method - POST should be GET in the "/me" function (minor typo)
A screenshot should be provided to show the const auth = require()... being added to the top of the script so we know where that "auth" came from.
Instead of saying "Now, ...", which seems like it's about to come up (but doesn't), it would be better to say "As you can see, we added the auth middleware as a parameter in the get function...". I was confused since the const auth was not shown and on first view I missed the "auth" in the get "/me" function since the "Now, " made me think it was coming up. Stupid mistake on my part but I think the combination of these 2 things made for some confusion.
Hi Arion,
I really appreciate your reply and the time you took to write such great feedback.
I am absolutely overwhelmed. I have done the required changes. .
Thanks a lot and wish you a very happy new year!
Would anyone be able to help me?
Looking to try and convert the email to all lowercase before it gets posted to the database within the signin and then convert to lowercase before it gets compared on login?
Thanks
In JavaScript to convert a string to lowercase you can string method 'toLowerCase()'
I hope it answers your question.
Thanks for the response,
I have managed to figure this out.
Just as simple as adding a Constraint into the model for
Lowercase: true
I noticed that we need to "await" on the existing user check before saving the new user. If I'm not mistaken, it would be possible for 2 identical request to "await" at this line at the same time, then both allowed to proceed to save duplicate users.
Any recommended way around this?
Anyways, thanks for article - learned a lot :)
Thank you so much for your article. Really helped me.
I just faced a error with auth middleware:
The error comes from
If you are using x-www-form-urlencoded you can get the params with req.body
Same is you send a json object from raw instead of x-www-form-urlencoded
Did you manage to fix this? getting same error