What is has_secure_password? Is it better than Devise?
has_secure_password vs. Devise for user authentication
What is has_secure_password?
has_secure_password is a built-in Rails method that provides a simple and secure way to handle user authentication using the bcrypt gem. When you include has_secure_password in your User model, it adds several features related to password handling and authentication:
Password hashing: has_secure_password automatically hashes the user's password and stores the hash in the
password_digest
attribute. This means that the plain-text password is never stored in the database, ensuring better security.Password and password confirmation: has_secure_password adds two virtual attributes to the model:
password
andpassword_confirmation
. These attributes are not stored in the database but are used to set and confirm the user's password during registration or when updating the password. It also includes a validation to ensure that the password and password_confirmation attributes match.Presence validation: has_secure_password adds a presence validation for the password attribute when creating a new user, ensuring that the password is not empty or null.
Length validation: By default, has_secure_password includes a minimum length validation for the password attribute, requiring it to be at least 6 characters long.
Authentication method: has_secure_password adds an
authenticate()
method to the model, which takes a plain-text password as an argument and returns the user object if the password is correct or false if it's incorrect.
To use has_secure_password, you need to add the bcrypt gem to your Gemfile:
gem 'bcrypt', '~> 3.1.7'
And then, in your User model:
class User < ApplicationRecord
has_secure_password
# validations and other code
end
By using has_secure_password, you can easily handle password security and user authentication without the need for additional third-party libraries or writing custom code.
Comparison with Devise
If you have tried to implement user authentication in Rails, you have probably heard of Devise. It is probably the most popular way to implement authentication in a Rails app. It is also one of the most popular gems.
So, I asked ChatGPT –
Me: is it better than using Devise gem?
ChatGPT: Both has_secure_password and Devise are popular options for handling user authentication in Rails applications. However, they serve different needs and can be more or less suitable depending on your requirements.
has_secure_password:
It's a built-in Rails method, so you don't need to install additional gems, other than bcrypt for password hashing.
It provides a lightweight and straightforward way to handle password security and basic authentication.
It's well-suited for applications with simple authentication requirements or when you want more control over the implementation details.
Devise:
Devise is a popular gem that provides a comprehensive solution for user authentication and management.
It includes many built-in features, such as email confirmation, password recovery, account locking, and support for multiple authentication strategies (e.g., OAuth).
It's customizable and extendable, allowing you to add or modify functionality as needed.
It's well-suited for applications with more complex authentication requirements or when you want to leverage a proven and widely-used solution.
Choosing between has_secure_password and Devise depends on your specific needs and preferences. If your application only requires basic authentication features and you prefer a lightweight approach, has_secure_password can be an excellent choice. On the other hand, if you need more advanced features or prefer a more comprehensive and battle-tested solution, Devise might be a better fit.
Keep in mind that you can always start with has_secure_password and later switch to Devise if your requirements change or if you find that you need additional features. However, migrating from one authentication method to another can require a bit of work, so it's essential to carefully consider your choice based on your project's needs.