What is Flask?

Flask is a lightweight web framework for Python. It is designed to be simple and easy to use. Flask allows you to build web applications quickly and with minimal setup. It follows the WSGI standard and is often used for small to medium-sized projects.

One of Flask’s strengths is its flexibility. It does not come with built-in tools for database management or form handling. Instead, it provides the essentials and allows you to choose your own tools and libraries. This makes Flask highly customizable and suitable for various needs.

Flask is popular for its straightforward approach and ease of learning. Developers appreciate its simplicity and clear documentation. With Flask, you can start developing your web application right away without needing extensive configuration. This makes it a great choice for beginners and experienced developers alike.

Why Handle User Authentication?

User authentication is important for web applications. It ensures that only authorized users can access certain features. Handling authentication properly helps protect sensitive information and maintain user privacy.

Setting Up Flask

To handle user authentication, you first need to set up Flask. Install Flask using pip if you haven’t already:

pip install Flask

Flask provides the tools needed to build a web application, including routes, templates, and more.

Creating a Basic Flask Application

Here’s a simple Flask application:

from flask import Flask, render_template, request, redirect, url_for

app = Flask(__name__)

@app.route('/')
def home():
    return "Welcome to the Flask App!"

if __name__ == '__main__':
    app.run(debug=True)

This code sets up a basic Flask app. It defines a route for the home page and runs the app in debug mode. The @app.route('/') decorator specifies the route for the home page.

Adding User Authentication

User authentication involves checking usernames and passwords. Flask doesn’t include authentication tools by default. You can use Flask-Login, an extension that simplifies this process.

Installing Flask-Login

Install Flask-Login using pip:

pip install Flask-Login

Flask-Login manages user sessions and handles user login and logout.

Configuring Flask-Login

To use Flask-Login, configure it in your Flask app. Here is an example setup:

from flask_login import LoginManager, UserMixin, login_user, login_required, logout_user, current_user

login_manager = LoginManager()
login_manager.init_app(app)
login_manager.login_view = "login"

class User(UserMixin):
    def __init__(self, id):
        self.id = id

@login_manager.user_loader
def load_user(user_id):
    return User(user_id)

In this setup, LoginManager manages user sessions. The user_loader function loads a user based on their ID.

Creating Login and Logout Routes

Define routes for logging in and out. Here’s how you can create these routes:

@app.route('/login', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
def login():
    if request.method == 'POST':
        username = request.form['username']
        # Assume user authentication is successful
        user = User(username)
        login_user(user)
        return redirect(url_for('dashboard'))
    return render_template('login.html')

@app.route('/logout')
@login_required
def logout():
    logout_user()
    return redirect(url_for('home'))

The login() route handles POST requests to authenticate users. The logout() route logs users out and redirects them to the home page.

Protecting Routes

To protect certain routes, use the @login_required decorator. This ensures that only logged-in users can access these routes:

@app.route('/dashboard')
@login_required
def dashboard():
    return f"Hello, {current_user.id}! Welcome to your dashboard."

In the dashboard() route, the @login_required decorator prevents access by unauthorized users. It displays a message with the current user’s ID.

Handling user authentication in Flask involves setting up the Flask-Login extension. This provides a framework for managing user sessions, logging in, and logging out. With these tools, you can build secure and interactive web applications.