Introduction
Authentication is the foundation of any secure web application. The Volkov Authentication System is designed with security, scalability, and developer experience in mind. Built using the latest features of Next.js 14, NextAuth.js, TypeScript, and Prisma, it provides a complete authentication flow that includes user registration, login, email verification, and optional two-factor authentication (2FA). This system offers a flexible, production-ready approach to managing users—ideal for modern full-stack applications. By combining powerful backend tools with a responsive and clean frontend, it ensures both security and usability without compromise.
Technologies Used
- Framework: Next.js 14
- Language: TypeScript
- Styling: Tailwind CSS
- Database: PostgreSQL
- ORM: Prisma ORM
- Authentication: NextAuth.js
- Email: Resend
Registration
The registration flow in Volkov Authentication is built from scratch using a custom React form and Zod for schema validation, ensuring users receive immediate, clear feedback when input fields are invalid. Once a user signs up, a secure, tokenized verification email is sent via Resend to confirm their email address—preventing unauthorized access and keeping the system clean.
This approach ensures:
- Input validation is handled both client-side and server-side
- No user can access the system without email verification
- A secure and user-friendly registration process
Email Verification
After successful registration, users receive a verification email powered by Resend. This ensures only valid and reachable email addresses are used. The verification token is securely stored in the database with an expiration time, and users must confirm their email before accessing protected routes. This adds a crucial layer of trust and security to the authentication flow.
Login
The login process leverages Next.js Server Actions to securely handle form validation and authentication on the server, ensuring sensitive logic never touches the client. Once credentials are validated, a JWT-based session is issued, making the app stateless, scalable, and efficient. If a user has Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) enabled, the flow intelligently prompts them to enter a 6-digit token sent via email—adding a critical layer of security. This flow ensures that even if credentials are compromised, unauthorized access is blocked without the 2FA code.
This system includes:
- Secure, server-handled login logic
- Stateless JWT session management
- Optional but robust 2FA protection
2FA Integration
Two-Factor Authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to enter a temporary code sent to their email after a successful login. When a user with 2FA enabled logs in:
- A unique 6-digit token is generated and sent via email using Resend.
- The token is stored in the database with an expiration timestamp.
- Users must enter the correct code within the valid time window to complete authentication.
- After successful validation, the token is immediately deleted to prevent reuse.
