# Authentication Best Practices

Security is crucial for any web application. Here are some authentication best practices to follow.

Always hash passwords before storing them. Use a library like bcrypt with a sufficient work factor (12 is a good starting point).

Implement proper session management. Use HTTP-only cookies for session tokens to prevent XSS attacks. Set appropriate expiration times and implement refresh token rotation.

Use HTTPS everywhere. Never transmit sensitive data over unencrypted connections.

Implement rate limiting to prevent brute force attacks. Lock accounts after multiple failed login attempts.

Consider using established authentication libraries like NextAuth.js instead of rolling your own. They handle many edge cases and security considerations for you.