> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://program.hackyourfuture.dk/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://program.hackyourfuture.dk/course-content/backend/node/week3/session-materials/11-auth-db-tokens.md).

# 11. Auth - Tokens

In this part, you will explore **database-stored tokens** as another way of implementing authentication in the Snippets API.

This is mainly for **conceptual understanding in class** and for **extension work in the assignment**.

We will:

* Introduce a `tokens` table.
* Issue random tokens on login.
* Validate tokens on each request.

## 1. Database: tokens table

Add a `tokens` table to the Snippets database, for example with columns:

* `id` (primary key)
* `user_id` (foreign key to `users.id`)
* `role` (string)
* `token` (string, unique)
* `created_at` (timestamp)
* `expires_at` (timestamp, optional)

## 2. Issue a token on login

Extend login (or create a separate `/login-token` route) so that:

1. You first verify the username and password using your secure logic.
2. Generate an encoded token value (using Base64 for the further example).
3. Insert a new row into the `tokens` table with the user ID and token.
4. Return the token to the client (e.g. `{ "token": "<value>" }`).

## 3. Token auth middleware

Create middleware (e.g. `requireTokenAuth`) that:

1. Reads the `Authorization` header, expecting something like `Bearer <token>`.
2. Looks up the token in the `tokens` table.
3. (Optionally) checks for expiration.
4. Attaches the corresponding user to `req.user`, or returns `401` if the token is not valid.

## 4. Implement role-based routed

Create an `/admin` rote protected by the role guard, so that:

1. Only the user with 'admin' role can access the route
2. Only the authenticated user can access the route

## 5. Perform the token forgery

In order to demonstrate why simple encoding is not enough for the token - perform the request forgery

1. Take the token and decode it (examples/token-forgery.js for the full path, [CyberChef](https://gchq.github.io/CyberChef/#recipe=From_Base64\('A-Za-z0-9%2B/%3D',true,false/disabled\)To_Base64\('A-Za-z0-9%2B/%3D'\)\&input=eyJ1c2VySWQiOjEsInVzZXJuYW1lIjoiYWxpY2UiLCJyb2xlIjoiYWRtaW4ifQ) to go step-by-step)
2. Change the role in the token from user to admin
3. Use the newly 'forged' token to enter `/admin` route

## 6. Suggested exercises

* Protect one or more Snippets API endpoints with your token-based middleware.
* Implement a `/logout-token` endpoint that deletes the token from the database.
* Consider:
  * How many concurrent tokens you allow per user.
  * How you might clean up old or expired tokens.

You will build on this concept further in the assignment.


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