---
status: "published"
label: "Authentication API"
order: 2
title: "Authentication API | Next.js Supabase SaaS Kit"
description: "Complete reference for authentication in MakerKit. Use requireUser for server-side auth checks, handle MFA verification, and access user data in client components."
---

The Authentication API verifies user identity, handles MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication), and provides user data to your components. Use `requireUser` on the server for protected routes and `useUser` on the client for reactive user state.

{% sequence title="Authentication API Reference" description="Learn how to authenticate users in MakerKit" %}

[requireUser (Server)](#requireuser-server)

[useUser (Client)](#useuser-client)

[useSupabase (Client)](#usesupabase-client)

[MFA handling](#mfa-handling)

[Common patterns](#common-patterns)

{% /sequence %}

## requireUser (Server)

The `requireUser` function checks authentication status in Server Components, Server Actions, and Route Handlers. It handles both standard auth and MFA verification in a single call.

```tsx
import { redirect } from 'next/navigation';
import { requireUser } from '@kit/supabase/require-user';
import { getSupabaseServerClient } from '@kit/supabase/server-client';

async function ProtectedPage() {
  const client = getSupabaseServerClient();
  const auth = await requireUser(client);

  if (auth.error) {
    redirect(auth.redirectTo);
  }

  const user = auth.data;

  return <div>Welcome, {user.email}</div>;
}
```

### Function signature

```tsx
function requireUser(
  client: SupabaseClient,
  options?: {
    verifyMfa?: boolean;  // Default: true
  }
): Promise<RequireUserResponse>
```

### Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|-----------|------|---------|-------------|
| `client` | `SupabaseClient` | required | Supabase server client |
| `options.verifyMfa` | `boolean` | `true` | Check MFA status |

### Response types

**Success response:**

```tsx
{
  data: {
    id: string;               // User UUID
    email: string;            // User email
    phone: string;            // User phone (if set)
    is_anonymous: boolean;    // Anonymous auth flag
    aal: 'aal1' | 'aal2';    // Auth Assurance Level
    app_metadata: Record<string, unknown>;
    user_metadata: Record<string, unknown>;
    amr: AMREntry[];          // Auth Methods Reference
  };
  error: null;
}
```

**Error response:**

```tsx
{
  data: null;
  error: AuthenticationError | MultiFactorAuthError;
  redirectTo: string;  // Where to redirect the user
}
```

### Auth Assurance Levels (AAL)

| Level | Meaning |
|-------|---------|
| `aal1` | Basic authentication (password, magic link, OAuth) |
| `aal2` | MFA verified (TOTP app, etc.) |

### Error types

| Error | Cause | Redirect |
|-------|-------|----------|
| `AuthenticationError` | User not logged in | Sign-in page |
| `MultiFactorAuthError` | MFA required but not verified | MFA verification page |

### Usage in Server Components

```tsx
import { redirect } from 'next/navigation';
import { requireUser } from '@kit/supabase/require-user';
import { getSupabaseServerClient } from '@kit/supabase/server-client';

export default async function DashboardPage() {
  const client = getSupabaseServerClient();
  const auth = await requireUser(client);

  if (auth.error) {
    redirect(auth.redirectTo);
  }

  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Dashboard</h1>
      <p>Logged in as: {auth.data.email}</p>
      <p>MFA status: {auth.data.aal === 'aal2' ? 'Verified' : 'Not verified'}</p>
    </div>
  );
}
```

### Usage in Server Actions

```tsx
'use server';

import { redirect } from 'next/navigation';
import { requireUser } from '@kit/supabase/require-user';
import { getSupabaseServerClient } from '@kit/supabase/server-client';

export async function updateProfile(formData: FormData) {
  const client = getSupabaseServerClient();
  const auth = await requireUser(client);

  if (auth.error) {
    redirect(auth.redirectTo);
  }

  const name = formData.get('name') as string;

  await client
    .from('profiles')
    .update({ name })
    .eq('id', auth.data.id);

  return { success: true };
}
```

### Skipping MFA verification

For pages that don't require full MFA verification:

```tsx
const auth = await requireUser(client, { verifyMfa: false });
```

{% callout type="warning" title="MFA security" %}
Only disable MFA verification for non-sensitive pages. Always verify MFA for billing, account deletion, and other high-risk operations.
{% /callout %}

---

## useUser (Client)

The `useUser` hook provides reactive access to user data in client components. It reads from the auth context and updates automatically on auth state changes.

```tsx
'use client';

import { useUser } from '@kit/supabase/hooks/use-user';

function UserMenu() {
  const user = useUser();

  if (!user) {
    return <div>Loading...</div>;
  }

  return (
    <div>
      <span>{user.email}</span>
      <img src={user.user_metadata.avatar_url} alt="Avatar" />
    </div>
  );
}
```

### Return type

```tsx
User | null
```

The `User` type from Supabase includes:

```tsx
{
  id: string;
  email: string;
  phone: string;
  created_at: string;
  updated_at: string;
  app_metadata: {
    provider: string;
    providers: string[];
  };
  user_metadata: {
    avatar_url?: string;
    full_name?: string;
    // Custom metadata fields
  };
  aal?: 'aal1' | 'aal2';
}
```

### Conditional rendering

```tsx
'use client';

import { useUser } from '@kit/supabase/hooks/use-user';

function ConditionalContent() {
  const user = useUser();

  // Show loading state
  if (user === undefined) {
    return <Skeleton />;
  }

  // Not authenticated
  if (!user) {
    return <LoginPrompt />;
  }

  // Authenticated
  return <UserDashboard user={user} />;
}
```

---

## useSupabase (Client)

The `useSupabase` hook provides the Supabase browser client for client-side operations.

```tsx
'use client';

import { useSupabase } from '@kit/supabase/hooks/use-supabase';
import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query';

function TaskList() {
  const supabase = useSupabase();

  const { data: tasks } = useQuery({
    queryKey: ['tasks'],
    queryFn: async () => {
      const { data, error } = await supabase
        .from('tasks')
        .select('*')
        .order('created_at', { ascending: false });

      if (error) throw error;
      return data;
    },
  });

  return (
    <ul>
      {tasks?.map((task) => (
        <li key={task.id}>{task.title}</li>
      ))}
    </ul>
  );
}
```

---

## MFA handling

MakerKit automatically handles MFA verification through the `requireUser` function.

### How it works

1. User logs in with password/OAuth (reaches `aal1`)
2. If MFA is enabled, `requireUser` checks AAL
3. If `aal1` but MFA required, redirects to MFA verification
4. After TOTP verification, user reaches `aal2`
5. Protected pages now accessible

### MFA flow diagram

```
Login → aal1 → requireUser() → MFA enabled?
                                   ↓
                              Yes: redirect to /auth/verify
                                   ↓
                              User enters TOTP
                                   ↓
                              aal2 → Access granted
```

### Checking MFA status

```tsx
import { requireUser } from '@kit/supabase/require-user';
import { getSupabaseServerClient } from '@kit/supabase/server-client';

async function checkMfaStatus() {
  const client = getSupabaseServerClient();
  const auth = await requireUser(client, { verifyMfa: false });

  if (auth.error) {
    return { authenticated: false };
  }

  return {
    authenticated: true,
    mfaEnabled: auth.data.aal === 'aal2',
    authMethods: auth.data.amr.map((m) => m.method),
  };
}
```

---

## Common patterns

### Protected API Route Handler

```tsx
// app/api/user/route.ts
import { NextResponse } from 'next/server';
import { requireUser } from '@kit/supabase/require-user';
import { getSupabaseServerClient } from '@kit/supabase/server-client';

export async function GET() {
  const client = getSupabaseServerClient();
  const auth = await requireUser(client);

  if (auth.error) {
    return NextResponse.json(
      { error: 'Unauthorized' },
      { status: 401 }
    );
  }

  const { data: profile } = await client
    .from('profiles')
    .select('*')
    .eq('id', auth.data.id)
    .single();

  return NextResponse.json({ user: auth.data, profile });
}
```

### Using authActionClient (recommended)

The `authActionClient` utility handles authentication automatically:

```tsx
'use server';

import * as z from 'zod';
import { authActionClient } from '@kit/next/safe-action';
import { getSupabaseServerClient } from '@kit/supabase/server-client';

const UpdateProfileSchema = z.object({
  name: z.string().min(2),
});

export const updateProfile = authActionClient
  .inputSchema(UpdateProfileSchema)
  .action(async ({ parsedInput: data, ctx: { user } }) => {
    // user is automatically available and typed
    const client = getSupabaseServerClient();

    await client
      .from('profiles')
      .update({ name: data.name })
      .eq('id', user.id);

    return { success: true };
  });
```

### Public actions (no auth)

```tsx
import { publicActionClient } from '@kit/next/safe-action';

export const submitContactForm = publicActionClient
  .inputSchema(ContactFormSchema)
  .action(async ({ parsedInput: data }) => {
    // No user context in public actions
    await sendEmail(data);
    return { success: true };
  });
```

### Role-based access control

Combine authentication with role checks:

```tsx
import { redirect } from 'next/navigation';
import { requireUser } from '@kit/supabase/require-user';
import { getSupabaseServerClient } from '@kit/supabase/server-client';
import { isSuperAdmin } from '@kit/admin';

async function AdminPage() {
  const client = getSupabaseServerClient();
  const auth = await requireUser(client);

  if (auth.error) {
    redirect(auth.redirectTo);
  }

  const isAdmin = await isSuperAdmin(client);

  if (!isAdmin) {
    redirect('/home');
  }

  return <AdminDashboard />;
}
```

### Auth state listener (Client)

For real-time auth state changes:

```tsx
'use client';

import { useEffect } from 'react';
import { useSupabase } from '@kit/supabase/hooks/use-supabase';

function AuthStateListener({ onAuthChange }) {
  const supabase = useSupabase();

  useEffect(() => {
    const {
      data: { subscription },
    } = supabase.auth.onAuthStateChange((event, session) => {
      if (event === 'SIGNED_IN') {
        onAuthChange({ type: 'signed_in', user: session?.user });
      } else if (event === 'SIGNED_OUT') {
        onAuthChange({ type: 'signed_out' });
      } else if (event === 'TOKEN_REFRESHED') {
        onAuthChange({ type: 'token_refreshed' });
      }
    });

    return () => subscription.unsubscribe();
  }, [supabase, onAuthChange]);

  return null;
}
```

## Common mistakes

### Creating client at module scope

```tsx
// WRONG: Client created at module scope
const client = getSupabaseServerClient();

export async function handler() {
  const auth = await requireUser(client); // Won't work
}

// RIGHT: Client created in request context
export async function handler() {
  const client = getSupabaseServerClient();
  const auth = await requireUser(client);
}
```

### Ignoring the redirectTo property

```tsx
// WRONG: Not using redirectTo
if (auth.error) {
  redirect('/login'); // MFA users sent to wrong page
}

// RIGHT: Use the provided redirectTo
if (auth.error) {
  redirect(auth.redirectTo); // Correct handling for auth + MFA
}
```

### Using useUser for server-side checks

```tsx
// WRONG: useUser is client-only
export async function ServerComponent() {
  const user = useUser(); // Won't work
}

// RIGHT: Use requireUser on server
export async function ServerComponent() {
  const client = getSupabaseServerClient();
  const auth = await requireUser(client);
}
```

## Related documentation

- [Account API](/docs/next-supabase-turbo/api/account-api) - Personal account operations
- [Server Actions](/docs/next-supabase-turbo/data-fetching/server-actions) - Using authActionClient
- [Route Handlers](/docs/next-supabase-turbo/data-fetching/route-handlers) - API authentication