Ways to protect my client's password in API response

Question

Ways to protect my client's password in API response

I am relatively new to the world of JavaScript and MERN stack development. Currently, I am working on building a small-scale social media application. However, while coding the sign-up API, I encountered an issue where I could not properly segregate and hide the password from the user's information.

Below is the snippet of code in question:

userRouter.post("/signUp", async (req, res) => {
    
    const {name, userName, email, password} = req.body

    const existingUser = await userSchema.findOne({email: email})
    const SameUserName = await userSchema.findOne({userName: userName})
    if (existingUser) {
        return res.status(406).send({
            message: `Apologies, but an account with the email: ${email} already exists.`
        })
    } else if (SameUserName) {
        return res.status(406).send({
            message: `Sorry, that username is already taken. Please choose another one.`
        })
    }

    const newUser = new userSchema({
        name,
        userName,
        email,
        password
    })
    console.log(newUser)

    try {
        await newUser.save()
        res.status(201).send({
            message: `Account successfully created!`,
            user: newUser
        })
    } catch (err) {
        res.send({
            message:`Something went wrong`,
        })
    }
})

Now, I'm seeking guidance on how to exclude the password when sending the user information. Any suggestions?

javascript express

Answer 1

Answer №1

After reading through your comment, I have some suggestions for you.

It is essential that you refactor your code.

try {
 const userSaved = await newUser.save();
 delete userSaved.password // if this is the property name
 return res.status(201).send({ message: 'Account created successfully', user: userSaved })
}

Alternatively, you can:

try {
 const userSaved = await newUser.save();
 delete userSaved.password // if this is the property name
 return userSaved;
}

With this approach, you manage the message and other aspects on the front-end.

Answer 2

After reading through your comment, I have some suggestions for you.

It is essential that you refactor your code.

try {
 const userSaved = await newUser.save();
 delete userSaved.password // if this is the property name
 return res.status(201).send({ message: 'Account created successfully', user: userSaved })
}

Alternatively, you can:

try {
 const userSaved = await newUser.save();
 delete userSaved.password // if this is the property name
 return userSaved;
}

With this approach, you manage the message and other aspects on the front-end.

Answer 3

Answer №2

Ensure you integrate the toJSON and transform methods into your schema. These functions will enable you to manipulate schema objects during creation and when they are being sent to the client.

Here's a demonstration:

Schema:

import { Schema, model } from 'mongoose';

const schema = new Schema(
    {
        name: {
            required: true,
            type: String
        },
        userName: {
            required: true,
            type: String
        },
        email: {
            required: true,
            type: String
        },
        password: {
            required: true,
            type: String
        }
    },
    {
        // Here we define the `toJSON` method to serialize the user object without the password and other unnecessary fields;
        // We also convert the mongo-specific `_id` property to a format compatible with any database
        toJSON: {
            transform(_, ret) {
                ret.id = ret._id;

                delete ret.password;
                delete ret._id;
                delete ret.__v;
            }
        }
    }
);

// This is our user schema, used for initializing new user objects before saving them in the database
const User = model('User', schema);

userRouter.post('/signUp', async (req, res) => {
    // Retrieve the inputs - validity of these inputs must be checked separately
    const { name, userName, email, password } = req.body;

    // Validate the email format and perform necessary checks
    if (!email) {
        // Handle error response
    }

    // Check if the email is already in use
    const existingUser = await User.findOne({ email });
    if (existingUser) {
        return res.status(400).send({
            message: `Sorry, an account with email: ${email} already exists.`
        });
    }

    // Validate the userName format here
    if (!userName) {
        // Handle error response
    }

    // Only query for duplicate userName after passing the email check to minimize computation
    const sameUserName = await User.findOne({ userName });
    if (sameUserName) {
        return res.status(400).send({
            message: `Sorry, this user name is already taken. Please choose another one.`
        });
    }

    // Perform additional validations for name and password
    if (!name || ...) {
        // Handle error response
    }

    // If all validations pass, create a new user using the schema as a template
    const newUser = new User({ name, userName, email, password });

    // Save the new user
    await newUser.save().catch((ex) => {
        // Handle error response
    });

    res.status(201).send({
        message: `Account created successfully!`,
        user: newUser
    });
});

You may also consider using express-validator, a middleware that simplifies request body validation tasks.

Answer 4

Ensure you integrate the toJSON and transform methods into your schema. These functions will enable you to manipulate schema objects during creation and when they are being sent to the client.

Here's a demonstration:

Schema:

import { Schema, model } from 'mongoose';

const schema = new Schema(
    {
        name: {
            required: true,
            type: String
        },
        userName: {
            required: true,
            type: String
        },
        email: {
            required: true,
            type: String
        },
        password: {
            required: true,
            type: String
        }
    },
    {
        // Here we define the `toJSON` method to serialize the user object without the password and other unnecessary fields;
        // We also convert the mongo-specific `_id` property to a format compatible with any database
        toJSON: {
            transform(_, ret) {
                ret.id = ret._id;

                delete ret.password;
                delete ret._id;
                delete ret.__v;
            }
        }
    }
);

// This is our user schema, used for initializing new user objects before saving them in the database
const User = model('User', schema);

userRouter.post('/signUp', async (req, res) => {
    // Retrieve the inputs - validity of these inputs must be checked separately
    const { name, userName, email, password } = req.body;

    // Validate the email format and perform necessary checks
    if (!email) {
        // Handle error response
    }

    // Check if the email is already in use
    const existingUser = await User.findOne({ email });
    if (existingUser) {
        return res.status(400).send({
            message: `Sorry, an account with email: ${email} already exists.`
        });
    }

    // Validate the userName format here
    if (!userName) {
        // Handle error response
    }

    // Only query for duplicate userName after passing the email check to minimize computation
    const sameUserName = await User.findOne({ userName });
    if (sameUserName) {
        return res.status(400).send({
            message: `Sorry, this user name is already taken. Please choose another one.`
        });
    }

    // Perform additional validations for name and password
    if (!name || ...) {
        // Handle error response
    }

    // If all validations pass, create a new user using the schema as a template
    const newUser = new User({ name, userName, email, password });

    // Save the new user
    await newUser.save().catch((ex) => {
        // Handle error response
    });

    res.status(201).send({
        message: `Account created successfully!`,
        user: newUser
    });
});

You may also consider using express-validator, a middleware that simplifies request body validation tasks.

Ways to protect my client's password in API response

Answer №1

Answer №2

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