In an integrated computing network, APIs are necessary for sharing programmatic performances. Building up a standardised protocol for secure access is crucial for all app users. Here arises the need for a third-party application or service that limits access to their data without sharing their credentials.
This article will explore how the OAuth 2.0 implementation helps you in protecting your data by checking IDs and making sure only authorised people can access your information. You will know all about OAuth 2.0, how it works, its benefits, challenges, and how you should implement it in web apps. Stay with me until the end to learn all about OAuth 2.0 in Web applications and the future of authentication!
What is OAuth 2.0?
OAuth stands for “Open Authorisation” and is a standard design that allows users to share particular data with an application while keeping their username, password, and other details private.
OAuth builds trust between the user, client app, and authorisation server to flow in a secure way by limiting access to their resources. For a better understanding, an application can use OAuth 2.0 to get permission from the users to store files on their Google Drive.
How Does OAuth Work?
Imagine you are at a club and want to prove that you are old enough to enter without showing your personal ID which has a lot of details. You show a club-approved badge that says you are old enough and lets you enter. OAuth works like this when you use it to log into an app, the app asks the service if you are legit. The service, like Google, sends a token or badge that permits you to enter without seeing your credentials.
OAuth involves four parties:
- The user: It is the person who wants to use the web application.
- The provider: It is the service(e.g. Google) that holds its data.
- The client: It is the web application that wants access to the user’s data or services.
- The server: It is the backend of the web application that communicates with the provider and stores the tokens.
Now what happens is when a user visits the web application and clicks on the sign in button, he is redirected to an authorization page. Here he can choose to allow or deny access.
If they allow it, an authorisation code is sent back to the client. It is then changed into an access token from the provider. The server then stores those tokens safely and sends them back to the client. It can then make requests on behalf of the user. The users can sign out from the web application, revoke access from the provider, or even refresh their tokens when needed.
What Benefits Do You Get From OAuth 2.0 Implementation?
There are many benefits of implementing OAuth 2.0, such as:
- OAuth provides users a seamless and safe way to sign in to different web applications without creating new accounts.
- Users can access the control which they grant to each application.
- OAuth simplifies the authorisation and authentication process for developers.
- It reduces the risk of storing or handling user credentials.
- Developers can enhance the user experience and engagement of their web applications.
- Developers can also leverage the existing user base and characteristics of the provider platforms.
What are the Challenges of OAuth?
Where there are many benefits of OAuth implementation, there are some challenges and limitations of OAuth authentication. For developers, it can be a little complicated because it requires careful handling of tokens and understanding of authentication flow.
OAuth also depends upon the availability of the provider platforms which can change their policies or terms of services. Besides these, OAuth also has some security risks like token leakage, hijacking, or phishing attacks which require complete validation and encryption.
OAuth 2.0 Authentication Flow
client_id=your_app_id&redirect_uri=callback&scope=read_profile
SplxlOBeZQQYbYS6WxSbIA (temporary, single-use)
eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9… (JWT Token)
{“name”: “John Doe”, “email”: “john@example.com”, “profile_image”: “…”}
How to Implement OAuth 2.0 authentication in Web Apps
To implement OAuth 2.0 in your web application, you need to follow these steps:
- Project Installation and Setup
Restart a new Next.js project with the following command:
nxp create-next-app<project-name>This command initiates a command-line interface (CLI) where you can create your Next.js application. After that, navigate to the project directory and start a development server at http://localhost:3000/ in our browser.
- Set up Google Authentication
To create a Google authentication, move to the Google Cloud Console. You can get an OAuth client ID for your app here. A client ID aids the client and server and serves as an application-specific identifier. Create a new project and name it appwrite-google-auth.
After that, click the APIs & Services tab, on the left hand menu, select OAuth Consent Screen option. A consent screen shows the summary of your project whenever the app requests authorizations from a user’s Google account.
What you have to do next is click on Configure Consent Screen and then select External to give access to any user with a Google account, then click Create.
After that, fill in the app registration form with the details asked and click Save And Continue.
On the left hand menu, select the Credentials option to access the page where you can generate the Google client ID and on the top of this screen, click Create Credentials. Then select the OAuth client ID option. Fill in the form there and click the Create button.
The Authorised JavaScript origins URI is the development server, and the Authorised redirect URI is the link to which Google will redirect a user after a successful login.
In the end, click the Create button to generate the Google client ID, and you will be directed to the dashboard.
- Create an Appwrite Project
Appwrite is a development platform that provides a management console and powerful API for backend servers and mobile applications.
In order to use Appwrite in a Next.js application, install its Software Development Kit to style web applications.
Log in to Appwrite Cloud and create a new project, which will appear on the console. Copy the Project ID and API Endpoint to set up the app. Click on the Google OAuth Provider tab and paste the Google Client ID. Then, copy the Appwrite and add it to your Google Cloud Console’s list of Authorised redirect URIs.
- Integrate Appwrite with Next.js Application
Paste the Project ID and API Endpoint from Appwrite to interact with its services. After that, create an impression so that any user not logged in can be redirected to Google’s OAuth Page.
- Build a Log In and Log Out Feature
This is the final step in which you have to create a pages/login.js file to log into the app manually. This file allows users to access the app. Next, import the Appwrite instance from Apihelper.js to initialise the session.
The Google OAuth session redirects users to the homepage and for logging out, go back to the pages.index.js file and add an Appwrite instance to delete the current session.
Ready to Implement OAuth 2.0?
A secure web authentication is needed to protect your data from hazardous attacks. Therefore, implement OAuth 2.0 authentication in web applications to have a secure and seamless authentication process.
Follow our easy steps to enter the future of authentication and get a safe and efficient authentication process for your users!
Need professional help implementing OAuth 2.0 in your production environment? Objects’ software development services can guide you through secure authentication implementation from planning to deployment. Please feel free to contact us today.
