Complete Authentication with JWT

Overview

This repository provides a comprehensive implementation of user authentication using JSON Web Tokens (JWT) in a MERN (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js) stack application. The project is designed to guide developers in creating secure, token-based authentication systems for their web applications. It encompasses user registration, login, protected routes, and token management, demonstrating best practices in web security.

Features

• User Registration: Users can create an account by providing necessary details, which are validated and stored in a MongoDB database.
• User Login: Secure login mechanism that generates JWT tokens upon successful authentication.
• Token Management: Implementation of JWT for secure communication between client and server, including token expiration and refresh.
• Protected Routes: Middleware to protect certain routes and ensure that only authenticated users can access them.
• Error Handling: Comprehensive error handling to provide meaningful feedback during authentication processes.
• Environment Configuration: Easy configuration for different environments using environment variables.

Tech Stack

• Frontend: React
• Backend: Node.js with Express
• Database: MongoDB
• Authentication: JSON Web Tokens (JWT)
• Middleware: Express middleware for route protection
• Development Tools: npm, Postman for API testing

Installation

1. Clone the Repository:

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/Complete-Authentication-with-JWT.git
   cd Complete-Authentication-with-JWT

2. Install Dependencies:

   • Navigate to both the client and server directories and install the necessary packages:

   cd client
   npm install
   
   cd ../server
   npm install

3. Set Up Environment Variables:

   • Create a .env file in the server directory and add the following variables:

   PORT=5000
   MONGO_URI=your_mongo_database_uri
   JWT_SECRET=your_jwt_secret_key

4. Run the Application:

   • Start the server:

   cd server
   npm start

   • Start the client:

   cd client
   npm start

Usage

• Register: Send a POST request to /api/auth/register with the user details.
• Login: Send a POST request to /api/auth/login with credentials to receive a JWT.
• Access Protected Routes: Include the JWT in the Authorization header as a Bearer token when accessing protected routes.

API Documentation

The API endpoints are structured as follows:

• POST /api/auth/register: Register a new user
• POST /api/auth/login: Authenticate user and return JWT
• GET /api/protected: Example protected route requiring a valid JWT

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! If you have suggestions or improvements, please fork the repository and create a pull request.