Authentication with Next.js and Okta: A Step-by-Step Guide

In today's digital landscape, secure user authentication is paramount for any web application. Next.js, a popular React framework, combined with Okta, a leading identity provider, offers a robust solution for authentication needs.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of integrating Next.js with Okta for seamless and secure authentication.

Why Next.js and Okta?

Next.js provides a powerful platform for building server-rendered React applications with ease. Its simplicity and flexibility make it an excellent choice for modern web development projects. On the other hand, Okta offers a comprehensive identity management platform trusted by thousands of organizations worldwide.

By combining Next.js with Okta, developers can implement authentication features quickly and efficiently, ensuring a smooth user experience while maintaining security.

Getting Started

Before diving into the integration, make sure you have Node.js and npm installed on your machine. If not, you can download and install them from the official Node.js website.

Step 1: Set Up Your Next.js Project If you haven't already, create a new Next.js project by running the following commands in your terminal:

npx create-next-app my-next-app
cd my-next-app  
  

Step 2: Install Dependencies Next, install the necessary dependencies for integrating Okta authentication:

npm install @okta/okta-react @okta/okta-auth-js dotenv  
  

Step 3: Configure Okta Sign up for an Okta developer account if you haven't already. Once logged in, navigate to the Okta dashboard and create a new application. Choose "Single-Page App" as the platform and configure the necessary settings.

Step 4: Implement Authentication In your Next.js application, create a new file named `okta.config.js` and add the following code:

import { OktaAuth } from '@okta/okta-auth-js';

const oktaAuth = new OktaAuth({
  issuer: '{your_okta_domain}/oauth2/default',
  clientId: '{your_client_id}',
  redirectUri: window.location.origin + '/login/callback',
  scopes: ['openid', 'email', 'profile'],
});

export default oktaAuth;  
  

Replace `{your_okta_domain}` and `{your_client_id}` with your actual Okta domain and client ID.

Step 5: Implement Authentication Components Create a `Login` component for handling user login:

import { useOktaAuth } from '@okta/okta-react';

const Login = () => {
  const { oktaAuth } = useOktaAuth();

  const login = async () => {
    await oktaAuth.signInWithRedirect();
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <button onClick={login}>Login with Okta</button>
    </div>
  );
};

export default Login;  
  

Step 6: Secure Routes Protect routes that require authentication by wrapping them with the `SecureRoute` component:

import { SecureRoute, LoginCallback } from '@okta/okta-react';

<SecureRoute path="/dashboard" component={Dashboard} />
<Route path="/login/callback" component={LoginCallback} />  
  

Step 7: Test Your Application Run your Next.js application and navigate to the login page. You should be redirected to the Okta login page. After successful authentication, you'll be redirected back to your application.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you've successfully integrated Okta authentication into your Next.js application. This setup provides a secure and seamless authentication experience for your users, allowing you to focus on building great features for your application. Happy coding!