Server-side: Node.js with Express framework
Database: MongoDB
Authentication: JSON Web Tokens (JWT)
Middleware: Custom-built middleware for stateless authentication
Environment Management: dotenv
Dependencies: bcrypt, body-parser, config, dotenv, express, jsonwebtoken, mongoose, morgan, multer
Dev Dependencies: nodemon
This project offers a blueprint for creating a robust, secure, and scalable User Authentication RESTful API. It operates on a stack fortified by Node.js with Express, glued to a MongoDB database. The main spotlight here is on the two endpoints, /user/signup and /user/login, engineered meticulously to manage user authentication. JWT takes the center stage in ensuring secure data exchange between server and client. Features:
Endpoints:
Signup: Checks if the user already exists, hashes the password if new, and stores it in the MongoDB database.
Login: Validates user credentials, and if successful, returns a JWT for future authenticated actions.
Middleware:
Validates incoming JWTs, facilitating a stateless authentication mechanism.
Attached to routes that need secure access.
Environment Variables:
dotenv manages sensitive data such as API keys and DB credentials, keeping them away from source code for an extra layer of security.
CORS Management:
Accepts requests from any origin, configurable via headers.
Logging & Monitoring:
Server logging on startup, also involves usage of the morgan package for HTTP request logging.
File Uploads:
multer is in the dependency list, suggesting capabilities for handling multipart/form-data, commonly used for uploading files.
Development:
Nodemon for hot-reloading during development.
Safety first! We employ dotenv to ensure the secure storage of sensitive variables such as JWT_KEY and MONGODB_URI. These variables are read into the Node application at runtime from a .env file.
🛑 Important: Never commit the .env file to any public repository!
🌐 To Use: The .env file should contain the following key-value pairs:
JWT_KEY=YourSecretKeyHere
MONGODB_URI=YourMongoDBConnectionURIHere
Run require('dotenv').config() at the top of your entry file, e.g., app.js or server.js, to load these values into process.env.
Additional Information:
This project is a comprehensive template for those wanting to integrate secure, efficient, and stateless user authentication in their Node.js applications. It blends mainstream technologies with best practices to yield a product that's not just functionally rich but also secure and maintainable.
The code provided in this repository is presented "as-is" without any guarantees, warranties, or promises of its efficacy or security. It's important to recognize that this User Authentication RESTful API was originally designed as a part of a larger, more comprehensive project. While it serves as a strong foundational piece and a good starting point, it may not cover all the intricate details or requirements you may have for your specific application.
Here's what you need to know:
Scope: This code serves as an example or a template, and is not intended to be a fully-fledged, production-ready solution. Tailoring to fit your particular use-case is strongly recommended.
Security: While best practices have been followed, no code is entirely foolproof. Make sure to conduct your own security audits, particularly if you plan to use this in a production environment.
Dependencies: Always check the latest versions of dependencies and ensure compatibility. Some might be deprecated or might have introduced breaking changes.
Testing: The code has not undergone rigorous testing for all edge cases. Employ extensive testing strategies before deploying to production.
Consult Resources: Make sure to consult additional resources and documentation to understand the full context and capabilities of the individual components used in this project.
By using this code, you assume all risks and responsibilities. The author(s) will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or consequential damages or losses that may arise from using or modifying this code.
Thank you for your attention, and proceed with due diligence! 💡
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE.md file for details.