User Sees Error on Incorrect Credentials

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 73 views

Login/Logout: Enhancing User Experience and Security

In today's digital age, user authentication and authorization are crucial aspects of any application. A seamless login and logout experience can make or break a user's interaction with a website or mobile app. In this article, we will delve into the importance of login and logout functionality, exploring the various user stories and edge cases that ensure a secure and user-friendly experience.

User Can Sign In With Email & Password

As a registered user, you want to log in with your email and password, so that you can access your travel bucket list and trip posts. This is a fundamental aspect of user authentication, allowing users to access their accounts and interact with the application.

To achieve this, the application should provide a simple and intuitive sign-in form that accepts email and password credentials. The form should validate the input data, ensuring that the email address is correctly formatted and the password meets the required complexity standards.

**Sign-in Form**
---------------

* Email: [input field]
* Password: [input field]
* Submit: [button]

User Sees Error on Incorrect Credentials

As a registered user, you want to see an error message if you enter an incorrect email or password, so that you know you need to re-enter your credentials correctly. This is an essential feature that prevents users from attempting to log in with incorrect credentials, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

To implement this, the application should display an error message when the user submits the sign-in form with incorrect credentials. The error message should clearly indicate the reason for the failure, such as "Invalid email or password" or "Password does not meet complexity standards."

**Error Message**
----------------

* Invalid email or password
* Password does not meet complexity standards

User Can See a Loading State While Logging In

As a user attempting to sign in, you want to see a loading indicator while your credentials are being verified, so that you understand the app is processing your request. This feature provides a visual cue that the application is working on the user's request, reducing the likelihood of frustration and abandonment.

To achieve this, the application should display a loading indicator, such as a spinning wheel or a progress bar, while the user's credentials are being verified. The loading indicator should be displayed on the sign-in form or a separate loading screen.

**Loading Indicator**
----------------------

* Spinning wheel
* Progress bar

User Stays Signed In After Refresh

As a signed-in user, you want to remain logged in when you refresh the page, so that you don’t have to log in every time you open the app. This feature ensures a seamless user experience, allowing users to access their accounts without interruption.

To implement this, the application should store the user's session data in a secure manner, such as using a token-based authentication system. When the user refreshes the page, the application should automatically retrieve the stored session data and authenticate the user.

**Session Management**
----------------------

* Token-based authentication
* Secure session storage

User Can Sign Out

As a signed-in user, you want to log out when you choose, so that you can secure your account when you’re done using the app. This feature allows users to log out of their accounts, ensuring that their private data remains secure.

To achieve this, the application should provide a simple and intuitive sign-out button or link that, when clicked, logs the user out of their account.

**Sign-out Button**
-------------------

* Log out
* Sign out

User Is Redirected to Sign-In Page After Logging Out

As a user who has signed out, you want to be redirected to the sign-in page, so that you can sign in again or exit the app safely. This feature ensures that users are redirected to a secure page after logging out, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

To implement this, the application should redirect the user to the sign-in page after they log out, using a secure protocol such as HTTPS.

**Redirect**
------------

* Sign-in page
* HTTPS protocol

User Cannot Access Protected Pages After Logging Out

As a logged-out user, you want to be prevented from accessing trip pages and your profile, so that your private content remains secure. This feature ensures that users cannot access sensitive information after logging out, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

To achieve this, the application should implement access controls that prevent logged-out users from accessing protected pages.

**Access Controls**
-------------------

* Protected pages
* Access restrictions

User Cannot Sign In With an Invalid Email Format

As a user, you want to receive an error message if you enter an incorrectly formatted email, so that you can enter a valid email address. This feature ensures that users enter valid email addresses, reducing the risk of account creation and login failures.

To implement this, the application should validate the user's email address, checking for common formatting errors such as missing or extra characters.

**Email Validation**
-------------------

* Validate email format
* Check for common errors

User Cannot Sign In Without an Account

As a user who hasn’t signed up, you want to see an error message if you try to log in with an unregistered email, so that you know you need to create an account first. This feature ensures that users create accounts before attempting to log in, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

To achieve this, the application should display an error message when the user attempts to log in with an unregistered email.

**Error Message**
----------------

* Account not found
* Please create an account

User Sees a Session Timeout Message If Token Expires

As a signed-in user, you want to be automatically signed out if your session expires, so that your account remains secure. This feature ensures that users are automatically logged out after a session timeout, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

To implement this, the application should implement a session timeout mechanism that automatically logs out the user after a specified period of inactivity.

**Session Timeout**
-------------------

* Automatic logout
* Session expiration

User Can Request a Password Reset

As a user who forgot my password, you want to request a password reset by entering my email, so that I can regain access to my account. This feature allows users to reset their passwords, ensuring that they can regain access to their accounts.

To achieve this, the application should provide a password reset form that accepts the user's email address.

**Password Reset Form**
----------------------

* Email address
* Submit button

User Receives a Password Reset Email

As a user who requested a password reset, you want to receive an email with reset instructions, so that you can securely change your password. This feature ensures that users receive a password reset email with instructions on how to reset their passwords.

To implement this, the application should send a password reset email to the user's registered email address, containing a reset link and instructions on how to reset the password.

**Password Reset Email**
-------------------------

* Reset link
* Instructions

User Can Set a New Password

As a user who received a password reset link, you want to enter a new password and confirm it, so that you can log in with your updated credentials. This feature allows users to reset their passwords, ensuring that they can regain access to their accounts.

To achieve this, the application should provide a password reset form that accepts the user's new password and confirms it.

**Password Reset Form**
----------------------

* New password
* Confirm password
* Submit button

User Sees an Error for Invalid/Expired Reset Links

As a user trying to reset my password, you want to see an error message if my reset link is invalid or expired, so that you know you need to request a new one. This feature ensures that users receive an error message if their password reset link is invalid or expired.

To implement this, the application should display an error message when the user attempts to reset their password with an invalid or expired reset link.

**Error Message**
----------------

* Invalid reset link
* Expired reset link

User Cannot Use Old Password After Resetting

As a user who reset my password, you want to be required to use a new password, so that my account remains secure. This feature ensures that users cannot reuse their old passwords after resetting them.

To achieve this, the application should prevent users from using their old passwords after resetting them.

**Password Policy**
-------------------

* Prevent reuse of old passwords
* Enforce password complexity standards
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**Login/Logout: Frequently Asked Questions**

**Q: What is the purpose of login and logout functionality in an application?**
A: The purpose of login and logout functionality is to authenticate and authorize users, ensuring that only authorized users can access sensitive information and perform actions within the application.

**Q: Why is it important to validate user credentials during login?**
A: Validating user credentials during login is crucial to prevent unauthorized access to the application. It ensures that only registered users with valid credentials can access their accounts.

**Q: What is the difference between a session and a token-based authentication system?**
A: A session is a temporary storage area that stores user data, while a token-based authentication system uses a unique token to authenticate users. Token-based authentication is more secure and scalable than session-based authentication.

**Q: How can I prevent users from accessing protected pages after logging out?**
A: You can implement access controls that restrict access to protected pages after a user logs out. This can be achieved by using a combination of session management and access control lists (ACLs).

**Q: What is the purpose of a password reset feature?**
A: The purpose of a password reset feature is to allow users to reset their passwords in case they forget them. This feature ensures that users can regain access to their accounts without having to contact the application's support team.

**Q: How can I prevent users from reusing their old passwords after resetting them?**
A: You can implement a password policy that prevents users from reusing their old passwords. This can be achieved by storing a list of previously used passwords and checking against it when a user attempts to reset their password.

**Q: What is the difference between a password reset link and a password reset token?**
A: A password reset link is a URL that contains a token that can be used to reset a user's password. A password reset token is a unique token that is sent to the user's email address and can be used to reset their password.

**Q: How can I ensure that password reset links are secure and cannot be tampered with?**
A: You can ensure that password reset links are secure by using a secure protocol such as HTTPS and by implementing a token-based authentication system that generates a unique token for each password reset request.

**Q: What is the purpose of a session timeout mechanism?**
A: The purpose of a session timeout mechanism is to automatically log out a user after a specified period of inactivity. This feature ensures that users are automatically logged out after a session timeout, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

**Q: How can I implement a session timeout mechanism in my application?**
A: You can implement a session timeout mechanism by using a combination of session management and a timer that triggers a logout event after a specified period of inactivity.

**Q: What is the difference between a session and a cookie?**
A: A session is a temporary storage area that stores user data, while a cookie is a small piece of data that is stored on a user's device. Sessions are more secure than cookies because they are stored on the server-side and are not accessible to the user.

**Q: How can I ensure that my application's login and logout functionality is secure?**
A: You can ensure that your application's login and logout functionality is secure by implementing a combination of security measures such as:

* Validating user credentials during login
* Using a token-based authentication system
* Implementing access controls that restrict access to protected pages
* Using a secure protocol such as HTTPS
* Implementing a session timeout mechanism
* Using a secure password reset feature

By implementing these security measures, you can ensure that your application's login and logout functionality is secure and protects user data.