Login Module Documentation: Django
and React-Based Government Facility
System
This document outlines the structure and components for the login module, which will
manage user and admin authentication. It explains how to implement role-based access
control using Django and React.
1. Overview of Roles
The login module supports two primary roles:
- **User**: A citizen accessing their government documents and services (e.g., Aadhar,
Voter ID).
- **Admin**: A system administrator with the ability to manage users, documents, and
other system settings.
2. Backend (Django + Django REST Framework)
Django will handle authentication and user role management through its built-in `auth`
system and the Django REST Framework.
Key Components
1. **User Authentication**:
- Django’s built-in User model will be extended to include role management for Users and
Admins.
- Use **JWT tokens** for secure, stateless authentication, managed by the
`djangorestframework-simplejwt` package.
- API Endpoints will be created for user registration, login, and role-based authentication.
2. **Admin Authentication**:
- Admins will also authenticate using JWT tokens.
- Special admin permissions will be granted using Django’s built-in groups or a custom
`is_admin` field in the User model.
- Admin-specific API endpoints will be restricted to users with admin privileges.
3. Authentication Flow
The authentication flow ensures that users and admins have different levels of access.
User Login Flow
1. A user submits their email and password to the `/api/auth/login/` endpoint.
2. The system verifies the credentials and checks the user’s role (user or admin).
3. A JWT token is generated and returned to the user.
4. The token is used for all subsequent requests to verify the user’s identity and
permissions.
Admin Login Flow
1. An admin submits their email and password to the `/api/auth/login/` endpoint.
2. The system verifies the credentials and checks if the user is an admin.
3. A JWT token is generated and returned to the admin.
4. Admin endpoints will verify the `is_admin` flag in the user’s JWT to restrict access to
admin-only areas.
4. Django User Model Customization
The default Django User model will be extended to differentiate between users and admins.
1. **Custom User Model**: Extend the default User model by adding a boolean `is_admin`
field to distinguish roles.
2. **Groups and Permissions**: Alternatively, use Django’s built-in groups and permissions
to manage role-based access for users and admins.
5. JWT Authentication
JWT authentication will be used to secure the API. This ensures that users and admins can
log in once and access the system using a secure token.
1. **Login Endpoint**: Generates an access token and refresh token upon successful
authentication.
2. **Token Refresh**: The refresh token can be used to request a new access token when
the current one expires.
3. **Role-based Token Claims**: Include user roles (user/admin) in the JWT claims for role-
based access control.
6. API Endpoints for Authentication
The following endpoints will be created for handling login and registration:
1. 1. **/api/auth/register/** (POST): Register a new user or admin.
- Inputs: name, email, password, role (user/admin)
- Outputs: Success message or error.
2. 2. **/api/auth/login/** (POST): Authenticate a user or admin.
- Inputs: email, password
- Outputs: JWT token, refresh token.
3. 3. **/api/auth/logout/** (POST): Log out a user or admin.
- Inputs: JWT token
- Outputs: Success message or error.
7. Frontend (React)
React will handle the login forms and authentication state management.
Key Components
1. **Login Form**: A form for users and admins to submit their credentials (email and
password).
2. **Role-Based UI**: Once logged in, display different interfaces based on whether the user
is a normal user or an admin.
3. **Token Management**: Store the JWT token in local storage or cookies and use it for API
calls.
Conclusion
This documentation provides an overview of the login module, detailing user and admin
authentication flows, role management, and the necessary API endpoints for secure access.
