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Use Password Managers via the Credential Management API in JavaScript

Last updated: December 12, 2024

Password management is a critical aspect of web security. It ensures that the users' credentials are securely saved, accessed, and transmitted across network requests. With the growing complexity and number of websites requiring authentication, password managers have become indispensable. Today, we delve into using the Credential Management API in JavaScript—a tool designed to simplify credential handling.

Introduction to Credential Management API

The Credential Management API is a web interface to provide programmatic access to the browser's password manager. It allows you to create, store, retrieve, and manage credentials more securely and efficiently.

Basic Setup

To start using the Credential Management API, you need a basic understanding of JavaScript and a modern web browser that supports this API. The Credential Management API generally deals with two types of credentials:

  • PasswordCredential - For traditional username/password pairs.
  • FederatedCredential - For single sign-on used with third-party authentication providers like Google or Facebook.

Working with PasswordCredential

The PasswordCredential interface enables us to create and retrieve credential objects containing usernames and passwords. Below is how you can use it:

Creating a PasswordCredential


if ('credentials' in navigator) {
    const cred = new PasswordCredential({
        id: '[email protected]',
        password: 'user-password'
    });
    navigator.credentials.store(cred);
}

This code checks for credential support and creates a password credential object that can be stored in the browser's password manager.

Retrieving Stored Credentials


if ('credentials' in navigator) {
    navigator.credentials.get({
        password: true,
        mediation: 'optional'
    }).then(credential => {
        if (credential) {
            console.log(credential.id);  // Access username
            console.log(credential.password);  // Use password securely
        }
    }).catch(err => console.error(err));
}

Here we attempt to retrieve the saved password credentials. The mediation property manages the prompt frequency to users.

Handling FederatedCredential

FederatedCredential objects are part of a modern authentication flow involving third-party identity providers.

Using Federated Credentials


if ('credentials' in navigator) {
    const federated = new FederatedCredential({
        id: '[email protected]',
        provider: 'https://accounts.google.com'
    });
    navigator.credentials.store(federated);
}

This example showcases storing a federated credential linking a Google identity.

Practical Considerations

While the Credential Management API simplifies credential operations, it's essential to understand the critical aspects:

  • Secure Context: The API is only available via HTTPS.
  • User Permission: Requires user consent for storing and accessing credentials.
  • Programmatic Logout: Can be handled by using the navigator.credentials.preventSilentAccess() method to log users out and require re-authentication.

Conclusion

Using the Credential Management API can vastly improve user experience and security in web applications, making it integral for developers focused on enhancing authentication procedures. With continued adoption, it fuses browser technology with practical security solutions, minimizing friction for end-users handling multiple passwords.

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

Previous Article: Store and Retrieve Credentials Securely in JavaScript

Series: Web APIs – JavaScript Tutorials

JavaScript

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