In this tutorial, we will learn how to set up an authentication system for an HTML application. We will cover form inputs, server-side scripts, and how to secure access to your application.
By the end of this tutorial, you will be able to create a simple authentication system that verifies user credentials, maintains user sessions, and protects sensitive data.
Prerequisites:
Authentication:
Authentication is the process of verifying who a user is. When users enter their credentials, the system checks whether the entered details match the ones in the database. If they match, the user is authenticated.
Session Management:
Once a user is authenticated, the user's session needs to be managed so that the user remains logged in while navigating through the application. This is usually done by creating a session and storing it in a cookie.
Example 1: Creating Form Inputs
We will use HTML to create a simple login form.
<form id="loginForm">
<label for="username">Username:</label><br>
<input type="text" id="username" name="username"><br>
<label for="password">Password:</label><br>
<input type="password" id="password" name="password"><br>
<input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>
In this code snippet, we create a form with two input fields: one for the username and one for the password. The type="submit" on the last input field creates a submit button.
Example 2: Setting Up Server-Side Scripts
We will use Node.js and Express.js to set up the server-side scripts for handling the login.
const express = require('express');
const app = express();
app.use(express.json());
app.post('/login', (req, res) => {
const { username, password } = req.body;
// Authentication logic here
res.send('Login successful!');
});
app.listen(3000, () => console.log('Server started on port 3000'));
We covered the basics of setting up an authentication system for an HTML application. We learned how to create a login form and set up server-side scripts using Node.js and Express.js.
Next, you can learn about password hashing for secure storage and how to implement authorization after authentication. You can visit MDN Web Docs for more resources.
Exercise 1: Create a registration form with fields for the username, password, and email.
Exercise 2: Set up server-side scripts to handle the registration form data.
Exercise 3: Implement a way to handle incorrect login credentials.
Remember, practice is key to mastering these concepts. Happy coding!