Authentication and Authorization in CodeIgniter: Implementing User Authentication and Role-Based Access Control

CodeIgniter is a powerful PHP framework known for its lightweight and high-performance capabilities. Security is a crucial aspect of any web application, and implementing authentication and authorization ensures that users can securely access the system based on their roles and permissions. In this blog, we will explore how to implement user authentication and role-based access control (RBAC) in CodeIgniter.

Understanding Authentication and Authorization

• Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user. It typically involves logging in with credentials such as a username and password.
• Authorization determines what actions or resources an authenticated user can access based on predefined roles and permissions.

Setting Up Authentication in CodeIgniter

Step 1: Install CodeIgniter

First, ensure you have CodeIgniter installed. You can download it from the official website or install it via Composer:

Step 2: Configure Database

Create a database and a users table to store user credentials:

Step 3: Create a User Model

Create a model for user authentication:

Step 4: Implement User Authentication

Registration Controller

Login Controller

Logout Controller

Implementing Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

RBAC ensures that only authorized users can access specific pages or actions.

Step 1: Middleware for Role-Based Access

Create a filter to check user roles.

Step 2: Register the Filter in Filters.php

Modify app/Config/Filters.php to include the filter:

Step 3: Apply the Filter in Routes

Modify app/Config/Routes.php:

Conclusion

In this blog, we explored how to implement authentication and role-based access control in CodeIgniter. We created a user authentication system and applied RBAC using middleware filters. By following these steps, you can build a secure and scalable authentication system in CodeIgniter for your web applications.