Extending SuperTokens with Hooks and Plugins
Last updated March 1, 2024
Introduction
SuperTokens is a powerful authentication solution that provides out-of-the-box support for a wide range of authentication needs. However, every application has unique requirements, and there may be scenarios where the default functionality of SuperTokens needs to be extended or customized. Fortunately, SuperTokens supports the use of hooks and plugins, allowing developers to inject custom logic at various points in the authentication flow. This guide will walk you through the process of extending SuperTokens with hooks and plugins, enabling you to tailor the authentication experience to your application's specific needs.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure you have:
- A working implementation of SuperTokens in your application.
- Familiarity with the SuperTokens configuration and the authentication flow you wish to customize.
- Basic knowledge of JavaScript or TypeScript, depending on your development environment.
Steps to Extend SuperTokens
- Identify the Extension Points
- Review the SuperTokens documentation to identify the hooks and plugins supported by the framework. Common extension points include user registration, user login, session creation, and session verification.
- Determine which part of the authentication flow you need to customize and select the appropriate hook or plugin point.
- Define Your Custom Logic
- Once you've identified the extension points, define the custom logic you want to execute. This could range from additional security checks during login to custom analytics tracking at various stages of the authentication process.
- Implement Hooks
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// Example: Adding a post-login hookSuperTokens.init({ appInfo: { // Your app info }, recipeList: [ EmailPassword.init({ hooks: { postLogin: async ({ user, action }) => { // Custom logic after loginconsole.log(`User ${user.id} has logged in via ${action}`); } } }) ] });
- Hooks are functions that are called at specific points in the SuperTokens workflow. To implement a hook, you'll need to write a function that matches the signature expected by SuperTokens and register it in your SuperTokens configuration.
- Develop Plugins
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// Example: Creating a simple analytics pluginclassAnalyticsPlugin { staticinit() { return(SuperTokensInstance) => { SuperTokensInstance.addPostLoginHook(async (user, action) => { // Send login event to analytics service }); }; } } SuperTokens.init({ appInfo: { // Your app info }, recipeList: [ EmailPassword.init() ], plugins: [ AnalyticsPlugin.init() ] });
- For more complex extensions, you might need to develop plugins. Plugins can provide new functionality or modify existing behaviors within SuperTokens.
- Create a plugin by defining a class or module that adheres to the SuperTokens plugin interface. This typically involves implementing specific methods that SuperTokens calls during the authentication process.
- Test Your Extensions
- Thoroughly test your hooks and plugins to ensure they work as expected. Pay special attention to edge cases and error handling to maintain the integrity of your authentication flow.
- Deploy and Monitor
- After testing, deploy your extended SuperTokens implementation to your production environment. Monitor the system closely to ensure that your customizations perform well under real-world conditions and do not negatively impact the user experience.
Conclusion
Extending SuperTokens with hooks and plugins allows you to achieve a high degree of customization in your authentication flows, enabling you to meet the unique requirements of your application while leveraging the robust security features of SuperTokens. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can enhance the functionality of SuperTokens and provide a tailored authentication experience for your users.