Password reset flows in No-Code - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Password Reset Flows

📖 Scenario: You are helping a website improve its user experience by designing a clear and simple password reset flow. This flow helps users who forgot their password to regain access safely.

🎯 Goal: Build a step-by-step password reset flow that includes user input, verification, and password update steps.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a list of steps involved in a password reset flow

Add a variable to track if the user has verified their identity

Use a loop or sequence to simulate moving through the reset steps

Complete the flow by confirming the password has been reset

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Password reset flows are essential for user account security and usability on websites and apps.

💼 Career

Understanding password reset flows helps in roles like UX design, product management, and software development focused on user authentication.

1

Create the password reset steps list

Create a list called reset_steps with these exact steps in order: 'Enter email', 'Receive code', 'Verify code', 'Set new password', 'Confirm reset'.

No-Code

# Create the list reset_steps with the exact steps
# Your code here

Hint

Use square brackets to create a list and include all steps as strings in the correct order.

2

Add verification status variable

Create a variable called is_verified and set it to False to track if the user has verified their identity.

No-Code

reset_steps = ['Enter email', 'Receive code', 'Verify code', 'Set new password', 'Confirm reset']
# Create the variable is_verified and set it to False
# Your code here

Hint

Use a simple assignment to create a boolean variable.

3

Simulate going through reset steps

Use a for loop with the variable step to go through each item in reset_steps. Inside the loop, add an if statement that sets is_verified = True when step is 'Verify code'.

No-Code

reset_steps = ['Enter email', 'Receive code', 'Verify code', 'Set new password', 'Confirm reset']
is_verified = False
# Loop through reset_steps and update is_verified when step is 'Verify code'
# Your code here

Hint

Use a for loop and an if condition to check the current step and update the verification status.

4

Complete the password reset flow

After the loop, create a variable called reset_complete and set it to True only if is_verified is True. This confirms the password reset process is finished.

No-Code

reset_steps = ['Enter email', 'Receive code', 'Verify code', 'Set new password', 'Confirm reset']
is_verified = False
for step in reset_steps:
    if step == 'Verify code':
        is_verified = True
# Set reset_complete to True if is_verified is True
# Your code here

Hint

Use a simple comparison to set the final reset_complete variable.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a password reset flow in an application?

easy

A. To change the username of the user

B. To delete the user account permanently

C. To help users regain access to their accounts safely

D. To update the user's email address

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of password reset

   Password reset flows are designed to help users who forgot their password regain access to their accounts.

2. Step 2: Identify the correct purpose among options

   Only To help users regain access to their accounts safely describes this purpose correctly, while others describe unrelated actions.

3. Final Answer:

   To help users regain access to their accounts safely -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Password reset purpose = regain access [OK]

Hint: Password reset helps regain access, not change username [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing password reset with username change
• Thinking password reset deletes account
• Assuming password reset updates email

2. Which of the following is a common step in a password reset flow?

easy

A. Changing the user's username to 'reset_user'

B. Automatically changing the password without user input

C. Deleting the user account after reset request

D. Sending a reset link or code to the user's email

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify typical password reset steps

   Commonly, a reset link or code is sent to the user's registered email to verify identity.

2. Step 2: Compare options to standard practice

   Only Sending a reset link or code to the user's email matches this standard step; others describe incorrect or harmful actions.

3. Final Answer:

   Sending a reset link or code to the user's email -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Reset step = send link/code [OK]

Hint: Reset flows send links or codes, not auto-change passwords [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking password resets happen without user confirmation
• Believing accounts get deleted after reset
• Confusing username change with password reset

3. In a password reset flow, why is it important that the reset link expires after some time?

medium

A. To prevent unauthorized use if the link is intercepted

B. To allow users to reset password multiple times quickly

C. To make the reset process slower and more secure

D. To automatically change the password after expiration

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand security risks of reset links

   If a reset link never expires, someone who gets it later could misuse it to access the account.

2. Step 2: Identify why expiration helps security

   Expiration limits the time window for misuse, protecting the user's account.

3. Final Answer:

   To prevent unauthorized use if the link is intercepted -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Expiration = prevent misuse [OK]

Hint: Expiration stops old links from being misused [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking expiration slows down the process intentionally
• Believing expiration allows multiple resets quickly
• Assuming password changes automatically after expiration

4. A password reset flow sends a reset code to the user, but the code never expires. What is the main problem with this?

medium

A. The reset code can be reused by attackers anytime

B. Users might forget the code quickly

C. The system will send multiple codes automatically

D. The user cannot reset the password without expiration

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the effect of no expiration on reset codes

   If reset codes never expire, anyone who obtains the code can use it anytime to reset the password.

2. Step 2: Identify the security risk

   This creates a security risk because attackers can reuse old codes to access accounts.

3. Final Answer:

   The reset code can be reused by attackers anytime -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   No expiration = code reuse risk [OK]

Hint: No expiration means codes can be reused by attackers [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking users forget codes quickly is the main issue
• Assuming system sends codes automatically without request
• Believing expiration prevents password reset entirely

5. You want to design a password reset flow that prevents attackers from guessing reset codes easily. Which approach is best?

hard

A. Use short numeric codes that expire quickly

B. Use long random alphanumeric codes with expiration

C. Send the reset code via public chat for transparency

D. Allow unlimited attempts to enter the reset code

Solution

1. Step 1: Consider code complexity and expiration

   Long random alphanumeric codes are harder to guess than short numeric ones, and expiration limits time for attacks.

2. Step 2: Evaluate options for security

   The approach of using long random alphanumeric codes with expiration combines strong code complexity with time-limited validity, providing optimal security. Other approaches--short numeric codes, unlimited entry attempts, and public code sharing--are vulnerable to guessing, brute-force attacks, or interception.

3. Final Answer:

   Use long random alphanumeric codes with expiration -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Strong code + expiration = best security [OK]

Hint: Long random codes with expiration improve security best [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing short codes that are easy to guess
• Sharing codes publicly reduces security
• Allowing unlimited attempts invites brute force