---

name: session-management description: Implements secure session management with JWT tokens, Redis storage, refresh flows, and proper cookie configuration. Use when building authentication systems, managing user sessions, or implementing secure logout functionality.

Session Management

Implement secure session management with proper token handling and storage.

Token-Based Sessions

Copyconst jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');

function generateTokens(user) {
  const accessToken = jwt.sign(
    { userId: user.id, role: user.role, type: 'access' },
    process.env.JWT_SECRET,
    { expiresIn: '1h' }
  );

  const refreshToken = jwt.sign(
    { userId: user.id, type: 'refresh' },
    process.env.REFRESH_SECRET,
    { expiresIn: '7d' }
  );

  return { accessToken, refreshToken };
}

Redis Session Storage

Copyconst redis = require('redis');
const client = redis.createClient();

class SessionStore {
  async create(userId, sessionData) {
    const sessionId = crypto.randomUUID();
    await client.hSet(`sessions:${userId}`, sessionId, JSON.stringify({
      ...sessionData,
      createdAt: Date.now()
    }));
    await client.expire(`sessions:${userId}`, 86400 * 7);
    return sessionId;
  }

  async invalidateAll(userId) {
    await client.del(`sessions:${userId}`);
  }
}

Cookie Configuration

Copyapp.use(session({
  name: 'session',
  secret: process.env.SESSION_SECRET,
  cookie: {
    httpOnly: true,
    secure: process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production',
    sameSite: 'strict',
    maxAge: 3600000, // 1 hour
    domain: '.example.com'
  },
  resave: false,
  saveUninitialized: false
}));

Token Refresh Flow

Copyapp.post('/auth/refresh', async (req, res) => {
  const { refreshToken } = req.cookies;

  try {
    const payload = jwt.verify(refreshToken, process.env.REFRESH_SECRET);
    if (payload.type !== 'refresh') throw new Error('Invalid token type');

    const user = await User.findById(payload.userId);
    const tokens = generateTokens(user);

    res.cookie('accessToken', tokens.accessToken, cookieOptions);
    res.json({ success: true });
  } catch (err) {
    res.status(401).json({ error: 'Invalid refresh token' });
  }
});

Security Requirements

• Use HTTPS exclusively
• Set httpOnly and sameSite on cookies
• Implement proper token expiration
• Use strong, unique secrets per environment
• Validate signatures on every request

Never Do

• Store sensitive data in tokens
• Transmit tokens via URL parameters
• Use weak or shared secrets
• Skip signature validation