Implementing secure authentication is essential for protecting user data and ensuring the integrity of your applications built with SolidJS. This step-by-step tutorial guides you through setting up a robust authentication system in your SolidJS project.

Prerequisites

  • Basic knowledge of SolidJS and JavaScript
  • Node.js and npm installed on your machine
  • A code editor like VS Code
  • An existing SolidJS project or create a new one using Vite

Step 1: Set Up Your Project

If you haven't already, create a new SolidJS project:

npm create vite@latest my-solidjs-app -- --template=solid

Navigate into your project directory:

cd my-solidjs-app

Install necessary dependencies:

npm install axios

Step 2: Set Up Authentication API

Use an existing authentication API or set up your own backend. For this tutorial, we'll assume you have an API endpoint at https://api.example.com/auth that handles login and registration.

Step 3: Create Authentication Service

Create a new file src/services/auth.js to handle authentication requests:

import axios from 'axios';

const API_URL = 'https://api.example.com/auth';

export async function login(username, password) {
  const response = await axios.post(`${API_URL}/login`, { username, password });
  return response.data;
}

export async function register(username, password) {
  const response = await axios.post(`${API_URL}/register`, { username, password });
  return response.data;
}

Step 4: Implement Login Form

Create a login component in src/components/Login.jsx:

import { createSignal } from 'solid-js';
import { login } from '../services/auth';

function Login() {
  const [username, setUsername] = createSignal('');
  const [password, setPassword] = createSignal('');
  const [error, setError] = createSignal('');

  const handleSubmit = async (e) => {
    e.preventDefault();
    try {
      const userData = await login(username(), password());
      localStorage.setItem('authToken', userData.token);
      // Redirect or update UI accordingly
    } catch (err) {
      setError('Invalid credentials');
    }
  };

  return (
    

       setUsername(e.target.value)}
      />
       setPassword(e.target.value)}
      />
      
      {error() && 
{error()}
}
    

  );
}

export default Login;

Step 5: Protect Routes and Manage Authentication State

Manage user authentication status using signals and protect routes accordingly. Create an auth store in src/stores/auth.js:

import { createSignal } from 'solid-js';

const [isAuthenticated, setIsAuthenticated] = createSignal(false);

export { isAuthenticated, setIsAuthenticated };

In your main app component, check for the token and update authentication state:

import { onMount } from 'solid-js';
import { isAuthenticated, setIsAuthenticated } from './stores/auth';

function App() {
  onMount(() => {
    const token = localStorage.getItem('authToken');
    if (token) {
      setIsAuthenticated(true);
    }
  });

  return (
    // Your app layout and route protection logic
  );
}

export default App;

Step 6: Implement Logout Functionality

Create a logout function to clear tokens and update state:

import { setIsAuthenticated } from './stores/auth';

function logout() {
  localStorage.removeItem('authToken');
  setIsAuthenticated(false);
}

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can implement a secure authentication system in your SolidJS application. Remember to always secure your API endpoints and handle tokens securely to protect user data.