Authentication APIs
Authentication APIs
Nearly every real-world application requires some form of authentication. This tutorial explains how to integrate login and registration APIs into a React Native application.
Building a Login Request
javascript
async function login(email, password) {
const response = await axios.post('/auth/login', { email, password });
return response.data;
}
Storing the Authentication Token
Upon successful login, the returned token should be securely stored, typically using AsyncStorage for basic apps or a secure storage library for sensitive production applications.
javascript
const { token } = await login(email, password);
await AsyncStorage.setItem('authToken', token);
Attaching the Token to Future Requests
javascript
api.interceptors.request.use(async (config) => {
const token = await AsyncStorage.getItem('authToken');
if (token) {
config.headers.Authorization = `Bearer ${token}`;
}
return config;
});
Handling Registration
javascript
async function register(name, email, password) {
const response = await axios.post('/auth/register', { name, email, password });
return response.data;
}
Handling Logout
javascript
async function logout() {
await AsyncStorage.removeItem('authToken');
}
Handling Expired Sessions
An Axios response interceptor can detect 401 Unauthorized responses globally, automatically logging the user out or redirecting them to the login screen when their session expires.
Conclusion
Properly integrating authentication APIs, including secure token storage and automatic token attachment, forms the security backbone of nearly every production React Native application.
