How to implement authentication in Next.js with JWT?
Asked 7/12/2025Viewed 0 times1 answer
2
I'm building a Next.js application and need to implement JWT-based authentication. What's the best approach for handling user sessions and protecting routes?
I've heard about NextAuth.js, but I want to understand the fundamentals first. Can someone explain the complete flow from login to protecting API routes?
asked 7/12/2025
J
johndoe
John Doe
1 Answer
2
Great question! Here's a comprehensive approach to implementing JWT authentication in Next.js:
1. Setup JWT utilities
First, create utility functions for token generation and verification:
import jwt from 'jsonwebtoken'
export const generateToken = (payload) => {
return jwt.sign(payload, process.env.JWT_SECRET, { expiresIn: '7d' })
}
export const verifyToken = (token) => {
try {
return jwt.verify(token, process.env.JWT_SECRET)
} catch (error) {
return null
}
}2. Create authentication middleware
Use middleware to protect your API routes and pages.
This approach gives you full control over the authentication flow and is perfect for learning the fundamentals!
answered 7/12/2025
J
janesmith
Jane Smith
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