Most developers will likely agree:
Implementing authentication in Next.js can be an intimidating endeavor.
But it doesn't have to be. By leveraging Next.js authentication boilerplates as a starting point, you can save countless hours building a secure, robust user infrastructure.
In this post, you'll dive deep into code examples that demonstrate how to decode, customize, and extend the leading Next.js authentication boilerplates—equipping you to make informed decisions for your next project.
Decoding Next.js Authentication Boilerplates
Next.js authentication boilerplates provide a solid foundation for building secure web apps with user login functionality. Rather than configuring authentication from scratch, these boilerplates offer pre-made solutions to handle common tasks like:
- User registration and login with credentials
- Encrypted password storage
- Protected client-side routing
- Managing user sessions
- Securing API routes
In this guide, we'll explore code examples demonstrating key parts of the authentication flow with a Next.js boilerplate.
Benefits of Using an Authentication Boilerplate
Authentication boilerplates speed up development by handling complex user verification logic out-of-the-box. Their benefits include:
- Save significant development time - No need to build auth features like password encryption and session handling from the ground up.
- Robust security - Built using industry standard practices like JSON Web Tokens (JWTs), bcrypt password hashing, and HTTP cookies.
- Customizable and extensible - Tweak the code or extend auth features like role-based access control to fit your app's needs.
- Open source - View, audit, and contribute back to the boilerplate code on GitHub.
- Integrates well - Designed to work nicely with common tools like Next.js, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS.
Now let's look at some code examples to see an authentication boilerplate in action.
Setting the Stage: Next.js 13 - JWT Authentication Example
Authentication is crucial for most web applications today. That's why Next.js 13 introduces built-in support for JSON Web Token (JWT) authentication out of the box.
In this guide, we'll explore step-by-step how to implement Next JS authentication boilerplate code with JWT in Next.js 13. Whether you're building a blog, e-commerce store, or SaaS app, you'll be able to easily lock down routes and enable token-based user verification.
Example Project Overview
To see JWT auth in action, we'll build a simple Next.js blogging app. Here's what our demo will include:
- Public homepage
- Private account page
- Login and logout pages
- JWT tokens to control access
We'll use Next.js 13's built-in useUser
hook to handle user sessions. For tokens, we'll integrate next-auth along with GitHub OAuth for authentication.
Project Setup
Let's initialize our Next.js app and install the required packages:
npx create-next-app nextjs-jwt-auth-app
cd nextjs-jwt-auth-app
npm install next-auth@beta
We'll also set up Tailwind CSS for styling:
npm install -D tailwindcss postcss autoprefixer
npx tailwindcss init -p
With our dependencies ready, we can enable Tailwind in styles/globals.css
:
@tailwind base;
@tailwind components;
@tailwind utilities;
Next, we'll scaffold out our main pages:
pages/
index.js
account.js
login.js
logout.js
We now have our Next JS authentication boilerplate starter ready!
Implementing JWT Authentication
The key steps are:
- Set up GitHub OAuth in NextAuth
- Secure routes with the
useUser
hook - Add login/logout pages
- Display user data
Let's go through each section.
Enabling OAuth with NextAuth.js
We'll use NextAuth.js to handle the OAuth flow with GitHub. Start by initializing NextAuth and configuring GitHub OAuth credentials:
// pages/api/auth/[...nextauth].js
import NextAuth from "next-auth"
import GitHubProvider from "next-auth/providers/github"
export default NextAuth({
providers: [
GitHubProvider({
clientId: process.env.GITHUB_ID,
clientSecret: process.env.GITHUB_SECRET,
}),
],
})
Don't forget to add your actual GitHub app credentials!
NextAuth will now issue JWT access tokens we can use to authenticate users.
Securing Routes with useUser Hook
Next.js 13 introduces a built-in useUser
hook for accessing user state. We can use it to easily secure routes and pages:
// pages/account.js
import { useUser } from '@/lib/hooks'
export default function AccountPage() {
const user = useUser()
// Redirect to /login if not logged in
if (!user) {
return <Redirect to="/login" />
}
return (
<div>Hello {user.name}!</div>
)
}
The useUser
hook handles token state behind the scenes. It will automatically refresh tokens if needed before rendering.
Building Login and Logout Pages
For login and logout pages, we can utilize NextAuth helpers:
Login Page
import { getProviders, signIn } from "next-auth/react"
export default function LoginPage() {
return (
<div>
{Object.values(providers).map((provider) => (
<div key={provider.name}>
<button onClick={() => signIn(provider.id)}>
Sign in with {provider.name}
</button>
</div>
))}
</div>
)
}
export async function getServerSideProps(context) {
const providers = await getProviders()
return {
props: { providers },
}
}
Logout Page
import { signOut } from "next-auth/react"
export default function LogoutPage() {
return (
<div>
<button onClick={() => signOut()}>Logout</button>
</div>
)
}
We now have full login and logout functionality powered by NextAuth!
Displaying User Data
Finally, we can access user details on private pages:
// pages/account.js
import { useSession } from "next-auth/react"
export default function AccountPage() {
const { data: session } = useSession()
return (
<div>
<h1>Account</h1>
<p>Name: {session.user.name}</p>
<p>Email: {session.user.email}</p>
</div>
)
}
There we have it - a complete Next JS authentication boilerplate example leveraging JWT and OAuth!
Summary
We walked through adding authentication from scratch to a Next.js app. Here are some key takeaways:
- NextAuth.js handles complex OAuth flows behind the scenes
- Built-in hooks like
useUser
simplify access control - JWT tokens enable persistent user sessions
- User data is available through the useSession hook
With just a few dozen lines of code, we have a solid starting point for securing sites and apps built with Next.js. This boilerplate can provide the authentication foundation for blogs, web apps, e-commerce stores, and more!
Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions about implementing Next JS authentication boilerplates. I'm happy to help explain any part of the code in more detail.
Securing Your Next.js App with JWT Authentication
Next.js is a popular React framework for building server-rendered web applications. Adding authentication ensures only authorized users can access private pages and data. JSON Web Tokens (JWT) provide a stateless method for user authentication.
Let's walk through how to implement JWT authentication in a Next.js app. We'll look at:
Installing JWT Authentication Essentials
The jsonwebtoken
package on GitHub provides utilities for generating and verifying JWTs.
We'll also use next-auth
for authentication handlers:
npm install jsonwebtoken next-auth
next-auth
handles login/logout behind the scenes using sessions and JWTs. It supports many providers like Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
Architecting Auth Context for State Management
For state management, we can create a global AuthContext
with React Context API:
// lib/authContext.js
import { createContext } from "react";
const AuthContext = createContext({});
export default AuthContext;
This will hold the user
object and authenticated
status.
Then wrap our app in the provider:
// pages/_app.js
import AuthContext from "../lib/authContext";
function MyApp({ Component, pageProps }) {
return (
<AuthContext.Provider value={{user, authenticated}}>
<Component {...pageProps} />
</AuthContext.Provider>
);
}
export default MyApp;
Now any component can access auth state via the context consumer!
Crafting the Authentication Experience
For login/logout pages, we can use built-in handlers from next-auth
:
// pages/api/auth/[...nextauth].js
import NextAuth from "next-auth";
import GoogleProvider from "next-auth/providers/google";
export default NextAuth({
providers: [
GoogleProvider({
clientId: process.env.GOOGLE_ID,
clientSecret: process.env.GOOGLE_SECRET,
}),
],
});
The login page uses the signIn()
method:
// pages/login.js
import { signIn } from "next-auth/react";
function LoginPage() {
return (
<>
<button onClick={() => signIn()}>Login with Google</button>
</>
)
}
export default LoginPage;
And for signup/logout pages, we can reuse these built-in handlers!
Guarding Routes
We can check auth status before allowing access to pages using getServerSideProps()
:
// pages/profile.js
import { getSession } from "next-auth/react";
export async function getServerSideProps(context) {
const session = await getSession(context);
if (!session) {
return {
redirect: {
destination: '/login',
permanent: false,
},
}
}
return {
props: { session }
};
}
function Profile({ session }) {
// return profile UI
}
export default Profile
This verifies the user session before rendering the profile.
Rendering UI Based on User's Auth Status
Finally, conditionally show elements in our UI if the user is logged in:
// components/Header.js
import { useContext } from "react";
import AuthContext from "../lib/authContext";
function Header() {
const { authenticated, user } = useContext(AuthContext);
return (
<header>
{authenticated && <p>Welcome {user.name}!</p>}
<nav>
// ... other links
</nav>
</header>
)
}
export default Header;
There you have it - a complete walkthrough of adding JWT authentication with Next.js! Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions.
Enhancing Authentication with NextAuth.js Integration
NextAuth.js is a complete open-source authentication solution for Next.js applications. It handles critical authentication tasks like user sessions, account verification emails, OAuth integration, and more right out of the box.
Integrating NextAuth.js into a Next.js project can greatly simplify and strengthen the authentication flow. Some key examples of how it achieves this include:
Streamlining Social Login
Enabling login via social platforms like Google, Facebook, Twitter, GitHub, and more requires just a few lines of configuration with NextAuth.js:
import NextAuth from "next-auth"
import GoogleProvider from "next-auth/providers/google"
export default NextAuth({
providers: [
GoogleProvider({
clientId: process.env.GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID,
clientSecret: process.env.GOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRET
})
]
})
By handling the OAuth authentication flow behind the scenes, NextAuth.js allows logging users in with their existing social accounts in minutes.
Simplifying Email/Password Login
Along with social login, NextAuth.js also provides built-in support for classic email/password authentication:
import NextAuth from "next-auth"
import CredentialsProvider from "next-auth/providers/credentials"
export default NextAuth({
providers: [
CredentialsProvider({
name: "Credentials",
credentials: {
email: { label: "Email", type: "text" },
password: { label: "Password", type: "password" }
},
async authorize(credentials) {
// Validate credentials and return user
}
})
]
})
The authorize
callback is where credentials can be verified against the application database before signing the user in.
Handling Session Management
NextAuth.js manages user sessions automatically, providing methods like getSession
to check if a user is logged in:
import { getSession } from "next-auth/react"
export default async function Page() {
const session = await getSession()
if (!session) {
return <LoginComponent />
}
return <SecretPage />
}
And session state is persisted across requests for a smooth logged-in experience.
In summary, NextAuth.js takes care of the trickiest parts of authentication like session handling, account verification, OAuth, and more. Integrating it into any Next.js project can greatly accelerate development of a robust, production-ready auth system.
Crafting Sleek Auth Interfaces with the Next JS Tailwind Boilerplate
Next JS offers a robust foundation for building web applications, but creating polished user interfaces still requires additional effort. This is where integrating the Tailwind CSS framework comes in handy.
Tailwind provides utility classes for rapidly styling UI components like forms, buttons, alerts without needing custom CSS. By leveraging a Next JS Tailwind boilerplate, we can style sleek authentication pages in minutes.
Signup & Login Forms
A common Tailwind pattern is applying bg-white rounded shadow p-6
to container elements. This sets a clean white background, border radius, subtle shadow, and padding:
<div className="bg-white rounded shadow p-6">
<h2 className="text-2xl font-medium mb-4">Sign Up</h2>
<form>
// form inputs
</form>
</div>
We can style inputs with border rounded w-full py-2 px-3
:
<input
type="text"
className="border rounded w-full py-2 px-3"
placeholder="Email address"
/>
<input
type="password"
className="border rounded w-full py-2 px-3"
placeholder="Password"
/>
And buttons using bg-blue-500 text-white py-2 px-4 rounded
:
<button
type="submit"
className="bg-blue-500 text-white py-2 px-4 rounded"
>
Sign Up
</button>
This rapidly builds a polished signup form without custom CSS. The same pattern applies for login interfaces too.
Alerts & Notifications
Tailwind also makes alerting users easy:
<div className="bg-green-100 border-l-4 border-green-500 text-green-700 p-4">
<p>Profile saved successfully!</p>
</div>
Change the color scheme for different alert types:
// Error
<div className="bg-red-100 border-l-4 border-red-500 text-red-700 p-4">
// Warning
<div className="bg-yellow-100 border-l-4 border-yellow-500 text-yellow-700 p-4">
In just a few lines we have beautiful, responsive auth interfaces. Check out the Next JS Tailwind Starter for more examples!
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Embracing Classic Styles with the Next JS Bootstrap Boilerplate
The Next JS Bootstrap boilerplate offers developers a quick way to build stylish, responsive web apps. By integrating the widely popular Bootstrap library into a Next.js project, you can tap into a vast collection of CSS components and JavaScript plugins for prototyping UIs rapidly.
This boilerplate conveniently bundles Bootstrap v5.1 with Next.js 13, configuring both frameworks to work harmoniously together. As a result, you can style your app pages and components using Bootstrap's design system with minimal setup.
Styling the Sign In Page
For example, the boilerplate includes a pre-made sign in page. To style it with Bootstrap, simply import the library and apply Bootstrap CSS classes:
import 'bootstrap/dist/css/bootstrap.css'
export default function SignIn() {
return (
<div className="container mt-5">
<div className="row">
<div className="col-md-6 offset-md-3 col-xl-4 offset-xl-4">
<div className="card">
<div className="card-body">
{/* Sign in form */}
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
)
}
This wraps the sign in form within Bootstrap's grid system and cards for a polished look. The container
, row
, col-*
classes handle responsive layouts. And card
plus mt-*
classes quickly style the card with spacing.
Configuring Global Styles
Additionally, the boilerplate has Next.js configured to handle global styles and assets. This is setup within pages/_app.js
:
import 'bootstrap/dist/css/bootstrap.css'
export default function App({ Component, pageProps }) {
return <Component {...pageProps} />
}
So any styles imported here will be available application-wide.
Personalizing with Theming
You can take it further by theming Bootstrap globally:
import "bootstrap/dist/css/bootstrap.min.css";
import "../styles/theme.scss";
export default function App({ Component, pageProps }) {
return <Component {...pageProps} />;
}
Where theme.scss
contains:
$primary: #6c63ff;
@import "bootstrap/scss/bootstrap";
This customizes Bootstrap's default variables, outputting styled components with your preferred color scheme.
So in summary, the Next JS Bootstrap boilerplate lets developers style their apps quickly with Bootstrap. You can apply layout and component classes universally, plus customize the theme. Perfect for accelerating development!
Diagnosing Authentication Challenges
Authentication can pose many challenges when building Next.js applications. This section provides troubleshooting guidance for common issues developers face.
Expired JWT tokens
JSON Web Tokens (JWTs) are a popular way to handle authentication in Node.js and Next.js apps. However, JWTs have a lifespan and can expire, leading to 401 unauthorized errors.
Here is an example helper method to check if the JWT is still valid before making API calls:
import jwt from 'jsonwebtoken';
export const checkAuth = (token) => {
try {
const decoded = jwt.verify(token, process.env.JWT_SECRET);
return {
valid: true,
expired: false,
}
} catch (err) {
return {
valid: false,
expired: true,
}
}
}
Call this before fetching data:
const {valid, expired} = checkAuth(token);
if (!valid) {
// redirect to login
router.push('/login');
}
if (expired) {
// refresh token
}
This avoids wasted API calls with an invalid JWT.
Failed login attempts
A common pain point is handling incorrect credentials during login. Use form validation and informative error messages for a smooth user experience.
export default function Login() {
const [error, setError] = useState(null);
const handleSubmit = async (e) => {
e.preventDefault();
try {
// call API login route
const user = await login(formData);
router.push('/dashboard');
} catch (err) {
setError(err.message);
}
}
return (
<form onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
{error && <p>{error}</p>}
// form inputs
</form>
)
}
Notice how the error
state displays the message on invalid logins. Consider using a library like react-hook-form to simplify validation.
Restricting API routes
Next.js API routes should check if the user is authenticated before returning data.
export default async function handler(req, res) {
// check JWT
const { valid } = checkAuth(req.cookies.token);
if (!valid) {
return res.status(401).end();
}
// return data
}
This prevents unauthenticated access to APIs.
In summary, these examples demonstrate approaches for addressing common authentication issues in Next.js apps. Robust error handling, validation, route protection, and token management helps provide a smooth user experience. Let me know if you have any other specific authentication challenges to discuss!
Dissecting a Next.js Authentication Project's Anatomy
Examining a sample file/folder structure for a Next.js app with authentication created from a boilerplate.
Overview
When starting a new Next.js project that requires authentication, developers can save a tremendous amount of time and effort by using a pre-built authentication boilerplate. These boilerplates handle all of the authentication logic out-of-the-box so developers can focus on building application features instead of wiring up user login, registration, password reset, etc.
In this article, we'll walk through the typical file and folder structure of a Next.js app generated from an authentication boilerplate. Understanding this structure helps when modifying, extending, or troubleshooting issues with the boilerplate code.
Entry Point
The main entry point for a Next.js application is the pages/_app.js
file. This initializes the app's global context and handles routing.
In an authentication boilerplate, the _app.js
file often imports and wraps app pages with the SessionProvider
component to handle user sessions and authentication state across the entire app:
import { SessionProvider } from "next-auth/react"
export default function App({
Component,
pageProps
}) {
return (
<SessionProvider session={pageProps.session}>
<Component {...pageProps} />
</SessionProvider>
)
}
API Routes
The pages/api
folder contains API routes that handle serverless functions like user authentication.
A typical authentication boilerplate has API routes for:
- User login
- Registration
- Logout
- Session handling
For example:
// pages/api/auth/[...nextauth].js
import NextAuth from "next-auth";
import Auth0Provider from "next-auth/providers/auth0";
export default NextAuth({
providers: [
Auth0Provider({
clientId: process.env.AUTH0_CLIENT_ID,
clientSecret: process.env.AUTH0_CLIENT_SECRET
})
]
})
Session Handling
The lib/session.js
module manages user sessions, providing helpers to get the session from the Context API and handling state.
// lib/session.js
import { useSession } from "next-auth/react"
export default function useUser({ req }) {
const session = useSession({ req })
// custom session handling
}
Context Provider
A custom context provider like StateProvider
often handles global state for UI components. This avoids prop-drilling for things like showing the authenticated Navigation bar vs. public Navigation bar:
// context/StateContext.js
export const StateContext = React.createContext()
export function StateProvider({ children }) {
const [user, setUser] = useState(null)
return (
<StateContext.Provider value={{ user, setUser}}>
{children}
</StateContext.Provider>
)
}
Protected Routes
Routes or pages that require authentication can leverage the useSession()
hook and server-side redirection to limit access.
For example, the pages/dashboard.js
route could check if the user session exists before allowing rendering:
import { useSession } from "next-auth/react"
export default function Dashboard() {
const { data: session } = useSession()
if (!session) {
return <Redirect to="/api/auth/signin" />
}
return (
<h1>Dashboard</h1>
)
}
This protects private routes from unauthenticated users.
Extending the Boilerplate
With the core authentication flow and APIs handled out-of-the-box, developers can focus on building application features and UI using their preferred frameworks.
Common extension points include:
- Customizing UI layouts
- Adding profile management
- Building dashboard pages
- Integrating with external APIs
Follow app-specific patterns and conventions when adding to boilerplate code to avoid tangled spaghetti code down the road!
Conclusion
Understanding the anatomy of a Next.js authentication boilerplate saves time when modifying or troubleshooting issues. The main areas to grasp are the authentication providers setup, API routes, session handling, protected routes, and global state management.
With robust user authentication wired up, developers can divert energy towards building awesome app features! Check out Next JS Authentication Boilerplate to kickstart your next secure web app.
Personalizing the Auth Blueprint: Customizing and Extending
Next.js authentication boilerplates provide a solid foundation for implementing user authentication in your applications. However, you will likely need to customize and extend the default authentication functionality to meet your app's specific requirements.
Here are some tips on modifying and adding new authentication features:
Implementing Custom User Models
Most Next.js authentication boilerplates use a basic user schema with fields like id
, name
, email
, and password
. To store additional user data:
// models/User.js
const userSchema = new Schema({
name: String,
email: String,
dateOfBirth: Date, // custom field
address: String // custom field
});
Then update sign up and profile forms to include the new fields.
Adding Social Login Options
Enable social login with OAuth and OpenID Connect providers like Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc:
// pages/api/auth/[...nextauth].js
providers: [
GoogleProvider({
clientId: process.env.GOOGLE_ID,
clientSecret: process.env.GOOGLE_SECRET
}),
]
Configure credentials and account linking to support social login.
Building Custom Reset Password Flows
Most boilerplates include basic password reset handled via email. To customize:
// pages/api/auth/reset-password.js
// Add SMS-based password reset
Twilio.messages.create({
to: user.phoneNumber,
body: 'Your password reset token is: ' + token
})
Support phone, SMS, or other channels to fit your app.
Adding Permissions and Access Control
Manage user authorization with custom claims and policies:
// lib/auth.js
// Check user roles on protected API routes
if (session.user.role !== 'admin') {
return res.status(403).end()
}
Build on top of base templates to govern access levels.
The above are just some ideas for extending default auth in creative ways. Lean on community plugins and middleware to accelerate your custom auth development.
Authenticating Comparisons: GitHub's Next.js Boilerplates Face-off
Next.js authentication boilerplates provide a solid foundation for building secure web applications. In this post, we'll compare some popular open-source options available on GitHub.
nextjs-jwt-auth
The nextjs-jwt-auth boilerplate by Iain Collins covers the basics of JWT-based authentication in Next.js.
It demonstrates:
- User signup, login and logout
- Storing JWT tokens in HTTP Only cookies
- Protecting API routes
- Making authenicated API calls from the browser
For example, securing an API route looks like:
export default async (req, res) => {
// Check for valid JWT token
if(!req.cookies.token) {
res.status(401).end()
return
}
// Rest of route logic
res.status(200).json({ message: 'Hello World' })
}
While straightforward, nextjs-jwt-auth lacks some common real-world features like:
- Account verification via email
- Forgot password flow
- OAuth integration
So while it covers the authentication basics, you'll likely need to build on top of it.
nextjs-auth-aws-cognito-starter
nextjs-auth-aws-cognito-starter by Thierry Schellenbach implements authentication using AWS Cognito.
It provides out-of-box support for:
- User signup/login with email and password
- Social login via Facebook, Google, Apple
- Multi-factor authentication
- User management and groups
- Passwordless login via magic links
And more through the power of AWS Cognito.
For example, protecting a page route:
export const getServerSideProps = withIronSession(
async ({ req, res }) => {
// Redirect to login if not authenticated
if (!req.session.user) {
return {
redirect: {
permanent: false,
destination: "/login"
}
};
}
// If authenticated, return page props
return {
props: {}
};
},
ironOptions
);
By leveraging AWS, this boilerplate provides enterprise-grade authentication capabilities without needing to code them from scratch.
Summary
While basic, nextjs-jwt-auth shows how to implement JWT token auth in Next.js. For a more robust solution, nextjs-auth-aws-cognito-starter taps into Cognito's expansive feature set.
There are tradeoffs with each approach - coding your own auth gives ultimate flexibility but takes effort. Leveraging a cloud provider handles complex auth scenarios but potentially locks you into their platform.
Hopefully seeing real-world code examples helps you evaluate Next.js authentication boilerplates and choose an approach aligned with your app's needs!
Securing the Future: Wrapping Up Next.js Auth Best Practices
Protecting user data and providing trusted authentication processes are increasingly important in modern web applications. As Next.js continues to grow in popularity as a React framework for web development, apps built with Next need robust authentication solutions.
Implementing authentication with Next allows developers to:
- Secure routes, pages, API routes for logged in users
- Store JWTs to manage user sessions
- Integrate with auth providers like Auth0 for login flows
- Manage user registration, login, forgot password and other auth flows
There are a few recommended ways to handle authentication with Next:
- Use the built-in Next Auth library
- Create authentication middleware
- Leverage third-party providers like Auth0
- Check user session on the server before client-side data fetching
To wrap up, some key next js authentication boilerplate tips:
- Validate tokens on each request
- Hash user passwords securely
- Use HTTPS
- Frequently clear auth tokens and refresh
- Restrict API routes to valid sessions
With a sound authentication foundation in place, developers can focus on building robust, secure Next apps knowing their user data is protected behind valid credentials. Useful resources for Next authentication:
- Next Auth Documentation
- Next.js Authentication Tutorial
- Next.js JWT Authentication Example
Following Next.js best practices for authentication ensures applications stand the test of time while providing users with a safe, trusted environment.