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better-auth
Add authentication to any framework with Better Auth. Use when a user asks to implement auth, set up login/signup, add OAuth providers, implement session management, or choose between auth libraries for TypeScript apps.
#better-auth#authentication#oauth#sessions#typescript
terminal-skillsv1.0.0
Works with:claude-codeopenai-codexgemini-clicursor
Usage
$
✓ Installed better-auth v1.0.0
Getting Started
- Install the skill using the command above
- Open your AI coding agent (Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, or Cursor)
- Reference the skill in your prompt
- The AI will use the skill's capabilities automatically
Example Prompts
- "Review the open pull requests and summarize what needs attention"
- "Generate a changelog from the last 20 commits on the main branch"
Documentation
Overview
Better Auth is a framework-agnostic TypeScript authentication library. It handles email/password, OAuth (Google, GitHub, Discord, etc.), magic links, two-factor auth, sessions, and organization/team management. One library, any framework, any database.
Instructions
Step 1: Setup
bash
npm install better-auth
Step 2: Server Configuration
typescript
// lib/auth.ts — Better Auth server setup
import { betterAuth } from 'better-auth'
import { prismaAdapter } from 'better-auth/adapters/prisma'
import { prisma } from './db'
export const auth = betterAuth({
database: prismaAdapter(prisma, { provider: 'postgresql' }),
emailAndPassword: {
enabled: true,
minPasswordLength: 8,
},
socialProviders: {
google: {
clientId: process.env.GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID!,
clientSecret: process.env.GOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRET!,
},
github: {
clientId: process.env.GITHUB_CLIENT_ID!,
clientSecret: process.env.GITHUB_CLIENT_SECRET!,
},
},
session: {
expiresIn: 60 * 60 * 24 * 7, // 7 days
updateAge: 60 * 60 * 24, // refresh every 24h
},
// Plugins for additional features
plugins: [],
})
Step 3: API Route
typescript
// app/api/auth/[...all]/route.ts — Next.js API handler
import { auth } from '@/lib/auth'
import { toNextJsHandler } from 'better-auth/next-js'
export const { GET, POST } = toNextJsHandler(auth)
Step 4: Client SDK
typescript
// lib/auth-client.ts — Client-side auth
import { createAuthClient } from 'better-auth/react'
export const authClient = createAuthClient({
baseURL: process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_URL,
})
// React hooks
export const { useSession, signIn, signUp, signOut } = authClient
tsx
// components/LoginForm.tsx — Login with email or OAuth
import { signIn } from '@/lib/auth-client'
export function LoginForm() {
return (
<div>
<form onSubmit={async (e) => {
e.preventDefault()
const form = new FormData(e.currentTarget)
await signIn.email({
email: form.get('email') as string,
password: form.get('password') as string,
})
}}>
<input name="email" type="email" required />
<input name="password" type="password" required />
<button type="submit">Sign In</button>
</form>
<button onClick={() => signIn.social({ provider: 'google' })}>
Continue with Google
</button>
<button onClick={() => signIn.social({ provider: 'github' })}>
Continue with GitHub
</button>
</div>
)
}
Step 5: Protect Routes
typescript
// middleware.ts — Next.js route protection
import { auth } from '@/lib/auth'
import { headers } from 'next/headers'
export async function getSession() {
const session = await auth.api.getSession({
headers: await headers(),
})
return session
}
// In a server component or page
const session = await getSession()
if (!session) redirect('/login')
Guidelines
- Better Auth works with any database via adapters (Prisma, Drizzle, Kysely, raw SQL).
- Run
npx better-auth generateto create database migrations for auth tables. - For multi-tenancy, use the organization plugin — handles teams, roles, and invites.
- Alternative to NextAuth/Auth.js — Better Auth is framework-agnostic and more composable.
Information
- Version
- 1.0.0
- Author
- terminal-skills
- Category
- Development
- License
- Apache-2.0