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Improve Authentication UX with Credentials in JavaScript

Last updated: December 12, 2024

Enhancing User Experience with JavaScript Credentials API for Authentication

Authentication is an integral part of any web application, and enhancing the user experience during authentication can significantly improve user engagement and satisfaction. In this article, we'll explore how to use the JavaScript Credentials Management API to improve the authentication user experience on the web.

Understanding the Credentials Management API

The Credentials Management API helps streamline the login experience for users by providing a framework for programmatically handling password-based logins and federated accounts. This API supports two main types of credentials:

  • PasswordCredential: for handling traditional username/password logins.
  • FederatedCredential: for handling social logins from federated identity providers like Google or Facebook.

Using PasswordCredential

The PasswordCredential interface is designed to work seamlessly with traditional login forms by capturing credentials and allowing them to be used for future logins.

The following example demonstrates how to create and use a PasswordCredential object:

// Capture the form inputs for username and password
const form = document.querySelector('form');
const username = form.elements['username'].value;
const password = form.elements['password'].value;

// Creating a PasswordCredential object
const credentials = new PasswordCredential({
  id: username,
  password: password
});

// Store credentials for future use
navigator.credentials.store(credentials).then(() => {
  console.log('Credentials stored successfully!');
}).catch(err => {
  console.error('Error storing credentials:', err);
});

Using PasswordCredential for Authentication

One of the key benefits of the Credentials Management API is its ability to seamlessly retrieve and use stored credentials, which reduces friction during user logins.

navigator.credentials.get({
  password: true,
  federated: true,
  mediation: 'required'
}).then(credential => {
  if (credential) {
    // Use the credentials for logging in
    console.log('Retrieved credentials:', credential);
  }
}).catch(err => {
  console.error('Error retrieving credentials:', err);
});

Federated Credentials

The FederatedCredential can be used to sign in users with a third-party provider, streamlining the process of logging in with services such as Google or Facebook.

Here's an example of using FederatedCredential:

// Create a federated credential for Google
const federatedCredential = new FederatedCredential({
  id: '[email protected]',
  provider: 'https://accounts.google.com'
});

// Store federated credential
navigator.credentials.store(federatedCredential).then(() => {
  console.log('Federated credentials stored successfully!');
}).catch(err => {
  console.error('Error storing federated credentials:', err);
});

Improving Security with the Credentials API

The Credentials Management API also enhances security by adopting better security practices and reducing reliance on long-term cookies. Here are some security considerations:

  • Ensure your application uses HTTPS to prevent credentials from being intercepted.
  • Encourage users to use a password manager for generating strong passwords.
  • Implement automatic session handling such as secure logout and idle session timeout.

Conclusion

Utilizing the Credentials Management API in your web applications can significantly improve the authentication user experience, making the process both smoother and more secure for users. By leveraging both PasswordCredential and FederatedCredential, you can cater to a wide range of user preferences, offering a flexible and user-friendly login experience. Start integrating it into your application today to simplify logins and boost user satisfaction.

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Previous Article: Enable Auto-Login with Credential Management in JavaScript

Series: Web APIs – JavaScript Tutorials

JavaScript

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