Remember me functionality in Ruby on Rails - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Remember Me Functionality

📖 Scenario: You are building a simple login system for a website. Users can choose to stay logged in even after closing their browser by selecting a "Remember me" checkbox.This feature uses cookies to keep users logged in automatically on their next visit.

🎯 Goal: Create a basic "Remember me" feature in a Rails app that sets a persistent cookie when the user logs in and uses it to authenticate the user automatically on future visits.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a method to generate a remember token and save its digest in the user model

Add a controller variable to hold the remember token

Implement the logic to set and delete the remember cookie

Add the final helper methods to check and forget the user session

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Remember me functionality is common on websites to improve user experience by keeping users logged in between visits without re-entering credentials.

💼 Career

Understanding how to implement secure persistent login is important for web developers working on authentication systems and user session management.

1

Add remember token and digest to User model

In the User model, add a method called remember that generates a new token using SecureRandom.urlsafe_base64 and saves its digest using BCrypt::Password.create in an attribute called remember_digest.

Ruby on Rails

class User < ApplicationRecord
  # Add remember method here
  # Your code here
end

Hint

Use attr_accessor :remember_token to create a temporary token attribute.

Use SecureRandom.urlsafe_base64 to generate the token.

2

Add remember token variable in Sessions controller

In the SessionsController, create an instance variable @remember_token and assign it a new token generated by SecureRandom.urlsafe_base64.

Ruby on Rails

class SessionsController < ApplicationController
  # Create @remember_token variable here
  # Your code here
end

Hint

Assign @remember_token inside the create action.

3

Set and delete remember cookies in Sessions helper

In the SessionsHelper module, write two methods: remember(user) that sets a permanent signed cookie :user_id and a permanent cookie :remember_token with the user's remember token, and forget(user) that deletes these cookies.

Ruby on Rails

module SessionsHelper
  # Define remember(user) method here
  # Define forget(user) method here
  # Your code here
end

Hint

Use cookies.permanent.signed for secure user ID storage.

Use cookies.permanent for the token.

4

Add helper methods to check and forget user session

In the SessionsHelper, add a method current_user that returns the logged-in user by checking the signed :user_id cookie and authenticating the :remember_token. Also add a method logged_in? that returns true if current_user is not nil.

Ruby on Rails

module SessionsHelper
  # Define current_user method here
  # Define logged_in? method here
  # Your code here
end

Hint

Use cookies.signed[:user_id] to get the user ID.

Use BCrypt::Password.new(...).is_password?(...) to verify the token.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of the remember me functionality in a Rails application?

easy

A. To reset the user's password automatically

B. To keep users logged in by saving a cookie on their browser

C. To log out users after a short time

D. To encrypt all user data in the database

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of remember me

   The remember me feature is designed to keep users logged in even after they close their browser by saving a cookie.

2. Step 2: Identify the correct description

   Options B, C, and D describe unrelated features like password reset, forced logout, or data encryption, which are not the purpose of remember me.

3. Final Answer:

   To keep users logged in by saving a cookie on their browser -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Remember me = save cookie to stay logged in [OK]

Hint: Remember me means saving login info in a cookie [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing remember me with password reset
• Thinking it logs out users quickly
• Assuming it encrypts database data

2. Which of the following is the correct way to set a permanent signed cookie for remember me in Rails?

easy

A. cookies.signed[:user_id] = { value: user.id, expires: 20.years.from_now }

B. cookies[:user_id] = { value: user.id, expires: 1.hour.from_now }

C. session[:user_id] = user.id

D. cookies.permanent[:user_id] = user.id

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand permanent signed cookies

   Permanent signed cookies in Rails are set with cookies.signed and an expiration far in the future, like 20 years.

2. Step 2: Analyze options

   cookies[:user_id] = { value: user.id, expires: 1.hour.from_now } sets a cookie but expires in 1 hour, not permanent. session[:user_id] = user.id uses session, not cookie. cookies.permanent[:user_id] = user.id sets a permanent cookie but not signed, which is less secure.

3. Final Answer:

   cookies.signed[:user_id] = { value: user.id, expires: 20.years.from_now } -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Permanent signed cookie = cookies.signed with long expiry [OK]

Hint: Use cookies.signed with long expiry for remember me [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using session instead of cookies
• Setting short expiry for permanent cookie
• Not signing the cookie for security

3. Given this Rails controller code snippet for login:

def create
  user = User.find_by(email: params[:email])
  if user&.authenticate(params[:password])
    if params[:remember_me] == '1'
      cookies.permanent.signed[:user_id] = user.id
    else
      session[:user_id] = user.id
    end
    redirect_to root_path
  else
    render :new
  end
end

What happens if the user checks the 'remember me' box?

medium

A. User ID is saved only in the session and lost on browser close

B. User password is saved in a cookie

C. User is logged out immediately

D. User ID is saved in a permanent signed cookie to keep logged in

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the remember_me condition

   If params[:remember_me] == '1', the code sets cookies.permanent.signed[:user_id] = user.id, which saves a permanent signed cookie.

2. Step 2: Understand cookie effect

   This cookie keeps the user logged in even after closing the browser, unlike session which clears on close.

3. Final Answer:

   User ID is saved in a permanent signed cookie to keep logged in -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Remember me checked = permanent signed cookie set [OK]

Hint: Remember me checked sets permanent signed cookie [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking session is used when remember me is checked
• Assuming password is saved in cookie
• Believing user logs out immediately

4. Identify the bug in this logout method related to remember me functionality:

def destroy
  session.delete(:user_id)
  cookies.delete(:user_id)
  redirect_to login_path
end

medium

A. It does not clear the user's password

B. It deletes the cookie but not the session

C. It deletes the session but forgets to delete the signed cookie

D. It redirects to the wrong path

Solution

1. Step 1: Check what is deleted

   The method deletes session[:user_id] and cookies[:user_id], but the remember me cookie is usually a signed cookie.

2. Step 2: Understand cookie deletion

   Deleting cookies[:user_id] does not remove cookies.signed[:user_id]. The signed cookie remains, so user stays logged in.

3. Final Answer:

   It deletes the session but forgets to delete the signed cookie -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Logout must delete signed cookie too [OK]

Hint: Delete signed cookie on logout, not just plain cookie [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Deleting only session but not signed cookie
• Deleting wrong cookie key
• Not redirecting after logout

5. You want to implement a secure remember me feature that expires after 2 weeks and invalidates on logout. Which approach is best?

hard

A. Set cookies.signed[:user_id] with 2 weeks expiry and delete it on logout

B. Store user ID in session only and never use cookies

C. Save user password in a permanent cookie for quick login

D. Use a plain cookie without signing or expiry

Solution

1. Step 1: Choose secure cookie with expiry

   Using cookies.signed[:user_id] with a 2 weeks expiry ensures the cookie is secure and expires reasonably.

2. Step 2: Invalidate cookie on logout

   Deleting this cookie on logout prevents unauthorized access after user logs out.

3. Final Answer:

   Set cookies.signed[:user_id] with 2 weeks expiry and delete it on logout -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Secure signed cookie + expiry + delete on logout = best practice [OK]

Hint: Use signed cookie with expiry and delete on logout [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Storing password in cookie (insecure)
• Using session only (no persistence after close)
• Using unsigned or permanent cookies without expiry