This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by ssekabira robert sims
🔹 What is Authentication?
It’s the process of verifying who a user is.
🔹 What is Authorization?
It’s the process of verifying what a user is allowed to do after logging in.
✅ Step 1: Authentication – Common Methods
• Username & Password – Basic login
• OAuth – Login via Google, GitHub, etc.
• JWT (JSON Web Token) – Popular for token-based auth
• Session-Based – Stores session on server with session ID
✅ Step 2: How Login Works (JWT Example)
- User sends email & password to server
- Server verifies and sends back a JWT
- JWT is stored in browser (usually localStorage)
- On each request, client sends JWT in headers
- Server checks token before giving access
✅ Step 3: Authorization Types
• Role-Based Access – Admin, Editor, User
• Resource-Based – Only owners can edit their content
• Route Protection – Block some pages unless logged in
✅ Step 4: Protecting Routes (Frontend Example)
if (!localStorage.getItem('token')) {
window.location.href = '/login';
}
✅ Step 5: Backend Route Protection (Express.js)
function authMiddleware(req, res, next) {
const token = req.headers.authorization;
if (!token) return res.status(401).send('Access Denied');
// Verify token and decode user info
next();
}
✅ Step 6: Common Tools & Libraries
• bcrypt – Hash passwords
• jsonwebtoken (JWT) – Create & verify tokens
• passport.js – Auth middleware
• OAuth Providers – Google, Facebook, GitHub
✅ Step 7: Best Practices
• Always hash passwords (never store plain text)
• Use HTTPS
• Set token expiry (e.g. 15 mins)
• Refresh tokens securely
• Don't expose sensitive data in JWT
💬 and like for more
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by ssekabira robert sims
ssekabira robert sims | Sciencx (2025-11-25T21:04:20+00:00) ✅ *Authentication & Authorization Basics* 🔐🌐. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/11/25/%e2%9c%85-authentication-authorization-basics-%f0%9f%94%90%f0%9f%8c%90-2/
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