How Authorization is done in MERN Stack:

How Authentication is done in MERN Stack ?

Steps to implement Authentication & Authorization in Backend:

1. Protecting Routes

To secure routes within your MERN application, employ middleware to authenticate the JWT token within incoming requests. Below is a sample middleware demonstrating how to safeguard routes.

Javascript

// middleware/auth.js
 
const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');
const secretKey = 'your-secret-key';
 
module.exports = (req, res, next) => {
  try {
    const token = req.headers.authorization.split(' ')[1];
    const decodedToken = jwt.verify(token, secretKey);
    req.userData = { userId: decodedToken.userId, email: decodedToken.email };
    next();
  } catch (error) {
    return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Authentication failed try Again' });
  }
};

2. Using Protected Routes

Ensure authentication for routes requiring it by applying the check-auth middleware. This middleware verifies the presence and validity of the JWT token in incoming requests, thereby enhancing security for sensitive endpoints. Additionally, it helps restrict unauthorized access to protected routes, ensuring that only authenticated users can access them.

Javascript

// routes/protectedRoute.js
 
const express = require('express');
const router = express.Router();
const checkAuth = require('../middleware/auth');
 
// A protected route is define here
router.get('/profile', Auth, (req, res) => {
  // Access user data through req.userData
  res.json({ message: 'You are authenticated' });
});
 
module.exports = router;

5 Simple Steps for Authentication and Authorization in MERN Stack

Implementing authentication and authorization in a MERN stack application is crucial for ensuring the security of your application and protecting sensitive data. Here’s an elaboration on the five simple steps you can take to achieve this: