Secure & Customizable User Registration System
Overview
This project showcases the development of a highly customizable and secure user registration block, designed to integrate smoothly into any Next.js application. It addresses common challenges in user onboarding by providing advanced features like real-time username availability checks, domain-restricted email inputs, and age-gated birthdate selection, all backed by robust validation and a comprehensive authentication solution. The primary goal was to create a flexible and user-friendly sign-up experience while maintaining high security standards.
Key Features
Custom Username Field:Instant normalization of input.Real-time API check for username availability and format validity."Generate Username" button for user convenience.Custom Organization Email Field:Enforces registration with a specific domain (e.g., @yourdomain.com).Custom Birthdate Field:Interactive dropdown calendar.Disables future date selection.Implements age restrictions to prevent underage registration.Robust Form Validation:Utilizes React Hook Form for efficient form management.Leverages Zod for schema-based, highly reliable input validation.Integrated Email Verification:Seamlessly integrates with better-auth for secure authentication flows.Automatically sends email verification upon successful sign-up.Redirects users to a dedicated verification page post-registration.Tech Stack
Frontend Framework: Next.jsLanguage: TypeScriptUI Library: Shadcn/UIForm Management: React Hook FormSchema Validation: ZodAuthentication: Better-AuthChallenges
Real-time Username Validation: Implementing efficient debouncing and API calls for instant username availability feedback without overwhelming the server.Complex Date Logic: Accurately handling birthdate constraints, including disallowing future dates and enforcing age limits, while providing a user-friendly calendar interface.Integrating better-auth: Ensuring correct setup for email verification, redirection, and state management across the registration flow.Input Normalization: Creating a robust and instant normalization process for username inputs to ensure consistency.Learnings
Gained significant experience in building custom, highly interactive form components with complex validation rules.Enhanced understanding of client-server communication patterns for real-time data validation and feedback.Mastered the integration of third-party authentication solutions like better-auth into a Next.js application.Solidified skills in using TypeScript for type safety, React Hook Form for performance, and Zod for schema validation to create resilient forms.Improved UX design considerations for guiding users through a multi-step registration process and providing clear error feedback.