Guarding Vue.js routes when navigating based on asynchronous authentication state requests

Question

Guarding Vue.js routes when navigating based on asynchronous authentication state requests

I have integrated Firebase for authentication in my Vue.js application. The main (main.js) Vue component handles the authentication logic as follows:

  created() {
    auth.onAuthStateChanged((user) => {
      this.$store.commit('user/SET_USER', user);
      if (user && user.emailVerified) {
        this.$store.dispatch('user/UPDATE_VERIFIED', {
          userId: user.uid,
        });
        // SUCCESSFUL LOGIN
        this.$router.replace('dashboard');
      } else if (user && !user.emailVerified) {
        this.$router.replace('verify');
      }
    });

In addition, the router navigation guard checks the authentication status and handles routing before each route:

router.beforeEach((to, from, next) => {
  const currentUser = firebaseApp.auth().currentUser;
  const requiresAuth = to.matched.some(record => record.meta.requiresAuth);
  const allowUnverified = to.matched.some(record => record.meta.allowUnverified);

  if (requiresAuth && !currentUser) {
    next('login');
  } else if (currentUser
              && !currentUser.emailVerified
              && !allowUnverified
              && to.path !== '/verify') {
    next('verify');
  } else if (!requiresAuth && currentUser) {
    next('dashboard');
  } else {
    next();
  }
});

One issue that arises is when the page is refreshed with a valid authentication token, it always redirects to the '/dashboard' route instead of staying on the current route. How can I handle this scenario without adding a beforeEnter guard to each authentication component? I find that approach to be inefficient. Perhaps moving this logic to the Vuex store instead of the created hook in the root instance could be a better solution. I would appreciate any guidance on this matter as I am struggling with this pattern.

javascript vue.js firebase-authentication vue-router vuex

Answer 1

Answer №1

Simple Solution

Why redirect the user to another page like the dashboard if they are already authenticated and don't require any additional authentication?

  } else if (!requiresAuth && currentUser) {
    next('dashboard');
  } else {
    next();
  }

It would be more efficient to just continue with the routing instead of redirecting.

  if (requiresAuth && !currentUser) {
    next('login');
  } else if (requiresAuth && !currentUser.emailVerified && !allowUnverified) {
    next('verify');
  } else {
    next();
  }

Additionally, make sure to remove the

this.$router.replace('dashboard');

line from the onAuthStateChanged callback. Refer to the detailed explanation below for more information.

Detailed Explanation

Separating authentication and routing logic from Vue components is a good practice. By isolating the Vuex store instance, it can be utilized outside of Vue components as well.

import Vue from 'vue';
import Vuex from 'vuex';
import getConfig from './config';

Vue.use(Vuex);

export default new Vuex.Store(getConfig());

Move the authentication logic to a separate auth.js service.

import store from './store';
import router from './router';

export function getUser() {
  return firebaseApp.auth().currentUser;
}
export default { getUser }

auth.onAuthStateChanged((user) => {
  store.dispatch('user/AUTH_STATE_CHANGED', user);

  if (!user) {
     router.push('login');
  } else if (user && !user.emailVerified) {
    router.push('verify');
  }
});

If the user is already logged in, avoid unnecessary redirections. Utilize global navigation guards for redirections and consider implementing them within the auth.js service.

router.beforeEach((to, from, next) => {
  const currentUser = getUser();
  const requiresAuth = to.matched.some(record => record.meta.requiresAuth);
  const allowUnverified = to.matched.some(record => record.meta.allowUnverified);

  if (requiresAuth && !currentUser) {
    next('login');
  } else if (requiresAuth && !currentUser.emailVerified && !allowUnverified) {
    next('verify');
  } else {
    next();
  }
});

Add simple navigation guards to routes that should not be accessible once logged in.

path: '/login',
beforeEnter: (to, from, next) => {
    if (auth.getUser()) {
        next('dashboard');
    } else {
        next();
    }
},

Remember, only redirect users when navigating to restricted pages. Refreshing the page for a logged-in user should not trigger a redirect to the dashboard unless they try to access a restricted page like the login page.

Answer 2

Simple Solution

Why redirect the user to another page like the dashboard if they are already authenticated and don't require any additional authentication?

  } else if (!requiresAuth && currentUser) {
    next('dashboard');
  } else {
    next();
  }

It would be more efficient to just continue with the routing instead of redirecting.

  if (requiresAuth && !currentUser) {
    next('login');
  } else if (requiresAuth && !currentUser.emailVerified && !allowUnverified) {
    next('verify');
  } else {
    next();
  }

Additionally, make sure to remove the

this.$router.replace('dashboard');

line from the onAuthStateChanged callback. Refer to the detailed explanation below for more information.

Detailed Explanation

Separating authentication and routing logic from Vue components is a good practice. By isolating the Vuex store instance, it can be utilized outside of Vue components as well.

import Vue from 'vue';
import Vuex from 'vuex';
import getConfig from './config';

Vue.use(Vuex);

export default new Vuex.Store(getConfig());

Move the authentication logic to a separate auth.js service.

import store from './store';
import router from './router';

export function getUser() {
  return firebaseApp.auth().currentUser;
}
export default { getUser }

auth.onAuthStateChanged((user) => {
  store.dispatch('user/AUTH_STATE_CHANGED', user);

  if (!user) {
     router.push('login');
  } else if (user && !user.emailVerified) {
    router.push('verify');
  }
});

If the user is already logged in, avoid unnecessary redirections. Utilize global navigation guards for redirections and consider implementing them within the auth.js service.

router.beforeEach((to, from, next) => {
  const currentUser = getUser();
  const requiresAuth = to.matched.some(record => record.meta.requiresAuth);
  const allowUnverified = to.matched.some(record => record.meta.allowUnverified);

  if (requiresAuth && !currentUser) {
    next('login');
  } else if (requiresAuth && !currentUser.emailVerified && !allowUnverified) {
    next('verify');
  } else {
    next();
  }
});

Add simple navigation guards to routes that should not be accessible once logged in.

path: '/login',
beforeEnter: (to, from, next) => {
    if (auth.getUser()) {
        next('dashboard');
    } else {
        next();
    }
},

Remember, only redirect users when navigating to restricted pages. Refreshing the page for a logged-in user should not trigger a redirect to the dashboard unless they try to access a restricted page like the login page.

Guarding Vue.js routes when navigating based on asynchronous authentication state requests

Answer №1

Simple Solution

Detailed Explanation

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