Simplify Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) with "authz" Checker

Biswarup NahaBiswarup Naha
2 min read

Introduction

Managing user permissions is a critical aspect of web applications, especially when dealing with multiple user roles such as Admins, Moderators, and Users. Instead of hardcoding permission logic into different parts of your code, a structured Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) system makes it easier to manage and scale your application securely.

Introducing Authorization Checker, an easy-to-use NPM package that helps you implement RBAC effortlessly in your Node.js applications.

Why Use Authorization Checker?

  • Scalability: Easily add or modify roles and permissions.

  • Security: Prevent unauthorized actions with a centralized permission system.

  • Simplicity: A lightweight and intuitive API.

  • Customizable: Define your own roles and access levels.

Installation

Installing the package is straightforward using npm or yarn:

npm install @biswarup598/authz

or

yarn add @biswarup598/authz

How It Works

Authorization Checker works by defining roles and their associated permissions. Then, using a simple function, you can check if a user is authorized to perform a specific action on a resource.

Example Usage

Import the module

import { checkPermission } from '@biswarup598/authz';

Define a user and check permissions

const user = { role: 'admin' };
const action = 'create';
const resource = 'post';

if (checkPermission(user, action, resource)) {
    console.log('Access granted');
} else {
    console.log('Access denied');
}

Role and Permission Breakdown

Admin Permissions

  • Can view, create, update, and delete all resources, including posts, comments, likes, reports, follows, blocks, and users.

Moderator Permissions

  • Can manage posts, comments, likes, reports, follows, and blocks but cannot modify admin settings.

User Permissions

  • Can view, create, update, and delete their own posts, comments, likes, follows, and blocks.

API Reference

checkPermission(user, action, resource)

  • user: An object containing the role property.

  • action: The action to be performed (e.g., create, update, delete).

  • resource: The resource on which the action is performed (e.g., post, comment).

  • Returns: true if the user has permission, otherwise false.

Why RBAC Matters in Modern Applications

RBAC is a standard practice in securing applications. It minimizes the risk of unauthorized actions, ensures compliance, and simplifies permission management. By using a dedicated authorization system like Authorization Checker, you reduce security vulnerabilities and streamline your codebase.

Conclusion

Authorization Checker is a simple yet powerful tool for implementing RBAC in Node.js applications. With minimal setup, you can ensure a secure and scalable permission management system for your users.

๐Ÿ”— Check out authz on NPM and start implementing RBAC today!

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Written by

Biswarup Naha
Biswarup Naha