🔒 How to Use Authentication in PWA: Step-by-Step Guide from sierratech

🔒 How to Use Authentication in PWA: Step-by-Step Guide from sierratech

Arnold

• 17 Jul, 2024
• 346 Views
• 1 Comment

Know How to Use Authentication in PWA with our comprehensive guide tailor-made for PWA developers. Learn how to secure your progressive web app and enhance user experience.

Authentication in PWA

How to use authentication in pwa

Hey! Today, sierratech company team tell how to use authentication in PWA. If you’ve been scratching your head over securing your Progressive Web App, you’re in the right place. Let’s get started!

Why Authentication Matters in PWAs

Before we jump into the how-to, let’s talk about why you should care about authentication in your PWA. Here’s the deal:

• It keeps user data safe and secure
• It enables personalized experiences
• It’s crucial for e-commerce and subscription-based PWAs
• It builds trust with your users

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Use Authentication in PWA

Step 1: Choose Your Authentication Method

First things first, you’ve got to decide on an authentication method. Here are some popular options:

• JWT (JSON Web Tokens)
• OAuth 2.0
• Firebase Authentication
• Social login (Google, Facebook, etc.)

For this guide, we’ll focus on JWT as it’s widely used and relatively simple to implement.

Step 2: Set Up Your Backend

To use authentication in your PWA, you’ll need a backend server. Here’s a quick setup using Node.js and Express:

const express = require('express');
const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');
const app = express();

app.use(express.json());

app.post('/login', (req, res) => {
  // Verify user credentials here
  const token = jwt.sign({ userId: 'user123' }, 'your-secret-key');
  res.json({ token });
});

app.listen(3000, () => console.log('Server running on port 3000'));

Step 3: Implement Client-Side Authentication

Now, let’s implement authentication on the client-side of your PWA. Here’s how:

// Login function
async function login(username, password) {
  const response = await fetch('/login', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    body: JSON.stringify({ username, password })
  });
  const data = await response.json();
  localStorage.setItem('token', data.token);
}

// Function to make authenticated requests
async function authenticatedFetch(url, options = {}) {
  const token = localStorage.getItem('token');
  options.headers = {
    ...options.headers,
    'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}`
  };
  return fetch(url, options);
}

Step 4: Secure Your PWA’s Routes

To use authentication in your PWA effectively, you’ll want to secure your routes. Here’s how you can do it with a simple middleware:

function authMiddleware(req, res, next) {
  const token = req.headers.authorization?.split(' ')[1];
  if (!token) return res.status(401).json({ error: 'No token provided' });

  jwt.verify(token, 'your-secret-key', (err, decoded) => {
    if (err) return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Invalid token' });
    req.userId = decoded.userId;
    next();
  });
}

app.get('/protected-route', authMiddleware, (req, res) => {
  res.json({ message: 'This is a protected route', userId: req.userId });
});

Step 5: Implement Logout Functionality

Don’t forget about logging out! Here’s a simple way to implement logout in your PWA:

function logout() {
  localStorage.removeItem('token');
  // Redirect to login page or update UI
}

Best Practices for Authentication in PWAs

Now that you know how to use authentication in PWA, let’s talk about some best practices:

• Always use HTTPS to encrypt data in transit
• Implement token refresh mechanisms for long-lived sessions
• Use secure storage methods like IndexedDB for sensitive data
• Implement proper error handling for authentication failures
• Consider implementing biometric authentication for mobile devices

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

When implementing authentication in your PWA, watch out for these common mistakes:

• Storing tokens in localStorage (use secure cookies instead)
• Not validating tokens on the server-side
• Forgetting to handle token expiration
• Neglecting to implement proper CORS settings

Also read our flagman service – web 3 development.