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React.js

Send Bearer Token with Axios in React App

By Filip on 10/05/2024

Learn how to securely send bearer tokens with Axios in your React applications for authenticated API requests.

Send Bearer Token with Axios in React App

Table of Contents

Introduction

In this article, we'll explore how to implement secure authentication in your React applications using bearer tokens and Axios. We'll cover what bearer tokens are, how they work, and provide a step-by-step guide on integrating them into your React projects for seamless API communication. We'll also touch upon important security considerations and best practices to ensure the safety of your application and user data.

Step-by-Step Guide

Let's break down how to use bearer tokens for authentication in your React applications using Axios.

Understanding Bearer Tokens

  • What they are: Bearer tokens are like digital keys that grant access to protected resources on a server. When you log into an application, the server might issue you a bearer token.
  • How they work: You include this token in the header of your HTTP requests to the server. The server checks the token to verify your identity and authorize your actions.

Implementing Bearer Tokens with Axios in React

Here's a step-by-step guide:

  1. Storing the Token:

    • After a successful login, you'll receive the bearer token from your backend. Store it securely in your React application, typically using:
      • Local Storage: Suitable for most cases. 
        localStorage.setItem('token', 'your-bearer-token');
      • Session Storage: More secure if you need the token to expire when the browser tab/window is closed. 
        sessionStorage.setItem('token', 'your-bearer-token');

  2. Creating an Axios Instance (Recommended):

    • This helps centralize your token logic and keeps your code cleaner.
    import axios from 'axios';

const api = axios.create({
  baseURL: 'https://your-api-base-url.com', // Your API's base URL
  headers: {
    'Content-Type': 'application/json', // Common content type
  },
});

// Add an interceptor to include the token with every request
api.interceptors.request.use(
  (config) => {
    const token = localStorage.getItem('token'); // Or sessionStorage
    if (token) {
      config.headers.Authorization = `Bearer ${token}`;
    }
    return config;
  },
  (error) => {
    return Promise.reject(error);
  }
);

export default api;

  3. Making Authenticated Requests:

    • Now use the api instance to make requests:
    import api from './api'; // Import your Axios instance

const fetchData = async () => {
  try {
    const response = await api.get('/protected-route');
    console.log(response.data); 
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching data:', error);
  }
};

Explanation:

  • Axios Instance: The axios.create() method sets up a custom Axios instance (api) with your base URL and default headers.
  • Interceptor: The interceptors.request.use() function intercepts every outgoing request. It adds the Authorization header with the Bearer token if it exists in local storage.
  • Making Requests: Use the api instance like you would normally use Axios (e.g., api.get(), api.post(), etc.). The interceptor automatically handles adding the token.

Important Considerations:

  • Security: Handle tokens with extreme care. Never expose them in client-side code or commit them to version control.
  • Error Handling: Implement robust error handling to catch authentication failures (e.g., 401 Unauthorized) and potentially redirect users to the login page or refresh the token.
  • Token Refreshing: If your API uses short-lived tokens, implement a token refresh mechanism to maintain user sessions.

Let me know if you'd like a more detailed example of error handling or token refreshing!

Code Example

The code defines an Axios instance configured to include a bearer token for authentication when making requests to a protected API route. It then demonstrates fetching data from this route within a React component, handling potential errors, and conditionally rendering the response based on the result.

// api.js
import axios from 'axios';

const api = axios.create({
  baseURL: 'https://your-api-base-url.com', 
});

api.interceptors.request.use(
  (config) => {
    const token = localStorage.getItem('token');
    if (token) {
      config.headers.Authorization = `Bearer ${token}`;
    }
    return config;
  },
  (error) => {
    return Promise.reject(error);
  }
);

export default api;

// App.js (or your component)
import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import api from './api';

function App() {
  const [data, setData] = useState(null);
  const [error, setError] = useState(null);

  useEffect(() => {
    const fetchData = async () => {
      try {
        const response = await api.get('/protected-route');
        setData(response.data);
      } catch (error) {
        setError(error); 
        // Handle potential authentication errors (e.g., 401)
        if (error.response && error.response.status === 401) {
          // Redirect to login, clear tokens, etc.
          console.error('Authentication error:', error);
        } else {
          console.error('Error fetching data:', error);
        }
      }
    };

    fetchData();
  }, []);

  return (
    <div>
      {error ? (
        <p>Error: {error.message}</p>
      ) : data ? (
        <pre>{JSON.stringify(data, null, 2)}</pre> 
      ) : (
        <p>Loading data...</p>
      )}
    </div>
  );
}

export default App;

Explanation:

  • api.js: This file sets up your Axios instance with the base URL and the request interceptor to include the bearer token.
  • App.js:
    • Import api: Import the configured Axios instance.
    • useEffect: Fetches data when the component mounts.
    • fetchData:
      • Uses api.get() to make the authenticated request.
      • Handles errors using a try...catch block.
      • Error Handling: Checks for a 401 Unauthorized error and logs a message (you would typically handle this by redirecting to a login page or refreshing the token).
    • Rendering: Conditionally renders the data, an error message, or a loading indicator.

Remember:

  • Replace "https://your-api-base-url.com" and "/protected-route" with your actual API details.
  • Implement proper error handling and token refreshing logic based on your application's requirements.
  • Securely store and manage your bearer tokens to protect your application and user data.

Additional Notes

Security:

  • HTTPS is Mandatory: Always use HTTPS for your API communication to prevent eavesdropping on tokens during transmission.
  • HttpOnly Cookies (Alternative): For sensitive applications, consider storing tokens in HttpOnly cookies. This prevents client-side JavaScript from accessing them, mitigating XSS attacks. However, this requires backend configuration.
  • Token Expiration: Implement token expiration on the backend. Short-lived tokens enhance security by limiting the time window for potential misuse.
  • Validation: Always validate and sanitize data from user inputs on the backend to prevent injection attacks, even if the requests are authenticated.

Best Practices:

  • Centralized API Handling: Create a dedicated file (like api.js) to manage your Axios instance, interceptors, and error handling. This promotes code reusability and maintainability.
  • Environment Variables: Store sensitive information like your API base URL in environment variables to avoid exposing them directly in your codebase.
  • Token Refreshing Strategies:
    • Silent Refresh: Use a timer to periodically refresh the token before it expires, providing a seamless user experience.
    • On-Demand Refresh: Attempt to refresh the token when a 401 Unauthorized error occurs. If successful, retry the original request.
  • State Management: For larger applications, consider using a state management library like Redux or Zustand to manage your authentication state (token, user information, etc.) more effectively.

Additional Considerations:

  • Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS): If your frontend and backend are hosted on different domains, configure CORS properly on your backend to allow requests from your React application.
  • Testing: Thoroughly test your authentication flow, including token handling, error scenarios, and edge cases.

Remember: Security is an ongoing process. Stay informed about the latest security best practices and vulnerabilities to keep your React applications and user data protected.

Summary

This article provides a concise guide on implementing bearer token authentication in your React applications using Axios.

Key Concepts:

  • Bearer Tokens: Digital keys granting access to protected server resources. They are sent in the Authorization header of HTTP requests.
  • Axios Instance: A customized Axios setup (axios.create()) to centralize token logic and simplify requests.
  • Interceptors: Functions that intercept outgoing requests (interceptors.request.use()) to automatically add the bearer token.

Implementation Steps:

  1. Store Token: Securely store the received bearer token after successful login, typically in localStorage or sessionStorage.
  2. Create Axios Instance: Define an Axios instance with your API's base URL and default headers.
  3. Add Interceptor: Implement an interceptor to retrieve the token from storage and add it to the Authorization header of every request.
  4. Make Authenticated Requests: Use the Axios instance to make requests to protected routes. The interceptor will handle token inclusion.

Code Example:

// api.js
import axios from 'axios';

const api = axios.create({
  baseURL: 'https://your-api-base-url.com',
  headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
});

api.interceptors.request.use(
  (config) => {
    const token = localStorage.getItem('token');
    if (token) config.headers.Authorization = `Bearer ${token}`;
    return config;
  },
  (error) => Promise.reject(error)
);

export default api;

// App.js
import api from './api';

const fetchData = async () => {
  try {
    const response = await api.get('/protected-route');
    console.log(response.data);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching data:', error);
  }
};

Important Considerations:

  • Security: Handle tokens with extreme care to prevent exposure.
  • Error Handling: Implement robust error handling for authentication failures.
  • Token Refreshing: Consider implementing token refresh mechanisms for short-lived tokens.

Conclusion

By following these practices, you can enhance the security of your React applications and protect sensitive user data during API communication. Remember that security is an ongoing effort, so staying updated on best practices and potential vulnerabilities is crucial. This comprehensive approach ensures that your React applications are well-equipped to handle authentication securely and efficiently using bearer tokens and Axios.

References

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