JWT Authentication Project with Express.Js and Mondodb

JWT (JSON Web Tokens) is a standard for securely transmitting information between parties as a JSON object. In this project, we will be using JWT for authentication in a Node.js application built with Express.Js and Mondodb as the database.

Setting up the Project

To start, create a new Express project by running the following commands in your terminal:


$ mkdir jwt-authentication-project
$ cd jwt-authentication-project
$ npm init -y
$ npm install express mongoose jsonwebtoken bcryptjs


Once the project is set up, create a server.js file and require the necessary packages:


const express = require('express');
const mongoose = require('mongoose');
const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');
const bcrypt = require('bcryptjs');
const app = express();


Implementing Authentication

Next, define the user schema and model using Mongoose. The user schema should include fields for username, email, password, and any other relevant information. Then, create routes for user registration, login, and profile retrieval. Use bcrypt to hash passwords before storing them in the database and verify them during authentication.

Generating and Verifying JWT Tokens

When a user successfully authenticates, generate a JWT token using the jwt.sign() method and include any relevant user information as the payload. Provide the generated token to the user as part of the authentication response. To verify tokens on subsequent requests, create middleware that uses the jwt.verify() method and attaches the decoded user information to the request object.

Securing Routes

To secure certain routes in the application, use middleware that verifies JWT tokens before allowing access. This can be done using the previously created middleware or by creating new middleware specifically for route protection.

Conclusion

JWT authentication provides a secure and efficient way to handle user authentication in web applications. By combining Express.Js, Mondodb, and JWT, you can create a robust authentication system that safeguards user data and ensures only authorized users can access protected resources.