Most interactive websites nowadays would require a user to log in into the website's system in order to provide a customized experience for the user. Once the user has logged in, the website will be able to provide a presentation that is tailored to the user's preferences.
A basic login system typically contains 3 components:
1. The component that allows a user to register his preferred login id and password
2. The component that allows the system to verify and authenticate the user when he subsequently logs in
3. The component that sends the user's password to his registered email address if the user forgets his password
Such a system can be easily created using PHP and MySQL.
================================================================
Component 1 ? Registration
Component 1 is typically implemented using a simple HTML form that contains 3 fields and 2 buttons:
1. A preferred login id field
2. A preferred password field
3. A valid email address field
4. A Submit button
5. A Reset button
Assume that such a form is coded into a file named register.html. The following HTML code excerpt is a typical example. When the user has filled in all the fields, the register.php page is called when the user clicks on the Submit button.
[form name="register" method="post" action="register.php"]
[input name="login id" type="text" value="loginid" size="20"/][br]
[input name="password" type="text" value="password" size="20"/][br]
[input name="email" type="text" value="email" size="50"/][br]
[input type="submit" name="submit" value="submit"/]
[input type="reset" name="reset" value="reset"/] [/form]
The following code excerpt can be used as part of register.php to process the registration. It connects to the MySQL database and inserts a line of data into the table used to store the registration information.
@mysql_connect("localhost", "mysql_login", "mysql_pwd") or die("Cannot connect to DB!"); @mysql_select_db("tbl_login") or die("Cannot select DB!"); $sql="INSERT INTO login_tbl (loginid, password and email) VALUES (".$loginid.",".$password.",".$email.")"; $r = mysql_query($sql); if(!$r) {
$err=mysql_error();
print $err;
exit(); }
The code excerpt assumes that the MySQL table that is used to store the registration data is named tbl_login and contains 3 fields ? the loginid, password and email fields. The values of the $loginid, $password and $email variables are passed in from the form in register.html using the post method.
================================================================
Component 2 ? Verification and Authentication
A registered user will want to log into the system to access the functionality provided by the website. The user will have to provide his login id and password for the system to verify and authenticate.
This is typically done through a simple HTML form. This HTML form typically contains 2 fields and 2 buttons:
1. A login id field
2. A password field
3. A Submit button
4. A Reset button
Assume that such a form is coded into a file named authenticate.html. The following HTML code excerpt is a typical example. When the user has filled in all the fields, the authenticate.php page is called when the user clicks on the Submit button.
[form name="authenticate" method="post" action="authenticate.php"]
[input name="login id" type="text" value="loginid" size="20"/][br]
[input name="password" type="text" value="password" size="20"/][br]
[input type="submit" name="submit" value="submit"/]
[input type="reset" name="reset" value="reset"/] [/form]
The following code excerpt can be used as part of authenticate.php to process the login request. It connects to the MySQL database and queries the table used to store the registration information.
@mysql_connect("localhost", "mysql_login", "mysql_pwd") or die("Cannot connect to DB!"); @mysql_select_db("tbl_login") or die("Cannot select DB!"); $sql="SELECT loginid FROM login_tbl WHERE loginid='".$loginid."' and password='".$password."'"; $r = mysql_query($sql); if(!$r) {
$err=mysql_error();
print $err;
exit(); } if(mysql_affected_rows()==0){
print "no such login in the system. please try again.";
exit(); } else{
print "successfully logged into system.";
//proceed to perform website's functionality ? e.g. present information to the user }
As in component 1, the code excerpt assumes that the MySQL table that is used to store the registration data is named tbl_login and contains 3 fields ? the loginid, password and email fields. The values of the $loginid and $password variables are passed in from the form in authenticate.html using the post method.
================================================================
Component 3 ? Forgot Password
A registered user may forget his password to log into the website's system. In this case, the user will need to supply his loginid for the system to retrieve his password and send the password to the user's registered email address.
This is typically done through a simple HTML form. This HTML form typically contains 1 field and 2 buttons:
1. A login id field
2. A Submit button
3. A Reset button
Assume that such a form is coded into a file named forgot.html. The following HTML code excerpt is a typical example. When the user has filled in all the fields, the forgot.php page is called when the user clicks on the Submit button.
[form name="forgot" method="post" action="forgot.php"]
[input name="login id" type="text" value="loginid" size="20"/][br]
[input type="submit" name="submit" value="submit"/]
[input type="reset" name="reset" value="reset"/] [/form]
The following code excerpt can be used as part of forgot.php to process the login request. It connects to the MySQL database and queries the table used to store the registration information.
@mysql_connect("localhost", "mysql_login", "mysql_pwd") or die("Cannot connect to DB!"); @mysql_select_db("tbl_login") or die("Cannot select DB!"); $sql="SELECT password, email FROM login_tbl WHERE loginid='".$loginid."'"; $r = mysql_query($sql); if(!$r) {
$err=mysql_error();
print $err;
exit(); } if(mysql_affected_rows()==0){
print "no such login in the system. please try again.";
exit(); } else {
$row=mysql_fetch_array($r);
$password=$row["password"];
$email=$row["email"];
$subject="your password";
$header="from:you@yourdomain.com";
$content="your password is ".$password;
mail($email, $subject, $row, $header);
print "An email containing the password has been sent to you";
}
As in component 1, the code excerpt assumes that the MySQL table that is used to store the registration data is named tbl_login and contains 3 fields ? the loginid, password and email fields. The value of the $loginid variable is passed from the form in forgot.html using the post method.
================================================================
Conclusion
< p>The above example is to illustrate how a very basic login system can be implemented. The example can be enhanced to include password encryption and additional functionality ? e.g. to allow users to edit their login information.Used with the author's permission.
This article is written by John L.
John L is the Webmaster of designer banners (designer banners).
After years of working with entrepreneurs who developed their first... Read More
An interesting eCommerce success factor that isn't precisely overlooked, but... Read More
Your content is what gets you in search engines, speaks... Read More
Q1.Why would I need a web site? A1.- Improve my... Read More
Recently I was reviewing the keyword specific conversion rate data... Read More
An accessible Web site is easily approached, easily understood, and... Read More
Often time I've browsed sites and seen the same thing... Read More
When I set up my website I felt paypal was... Read More
If you have some experience in web site design and... Read More
You hear a great deal about the Internet these days... Read More
No matter what browser you may want to use, you... Read More
SiteSpinnerSiteSpinner is a user-friendly web site development tool that includes... Read More
Spend time planning your Web site. Before you design a... Read More
The DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) states that service providers must... Read More
In the time that I have been using the Internet,... Read More
A professional online reputation is essential to the flourishing of... Read More
Right after the thought, "I need a website," people usually... Read More
Thousands of people are now making a living online and... Read More
Internet Marketing is not a miracle marketing strategy ? competition... Read More
A website provides invaluable advantages for businesses who have one.7... Read More
If you are developing your website on a host that... Read More
First, an eye opener. Making your fortune through affiliate programs... Read More
Like most average persons, I wanted some extra money to... Read More
Web templates by nature are created to aid and ease... Read More
There are many elements that are key to successful web... Read More
Green Bay Hummer H2 SUV rentals ..Selecting the Perfect Domain NameThe first issue I have with... Read More
Thinking about starting up a business? The web is the... Read More
What is the most important part of your online business?Many... Read More
The Internet is being used by local service business to... Read More
The DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) states that service providers must... Read More
SiteSpinnerSiteSpinner is a user-friendly web site development tool that includes... Read More
Starting an internet business can be confusing to non-veterans. The... Read More
A website provides invaluable advantages for businesses who have one.7... Read More
After planning the design and content of your website, it's... Read More
What to do if you are an artist after you... Read More
One of my most salient memories from when I sold... Read More
If you don't have a web site yet, are thinking... Read More
Knowledge is power.And undoubtedly, it is the key to making... Read More
If you're an up and coming graphic/web designer just out... Read More
So you want to have a website. You have gone... Read More
Looks like every client wants a Flash site these days... Read More
Internet has opened a whole new world for web developers... Read More
An automated accessibility tool is a piece of software which... Read More
#5 User Satisfaction: Learn what your visitors and site users... Read More
Having an eye catching website is great, but are you... Read More
If you have some experience in web site design and... Read More
Mini Websites are the most powerful and cost effective solution... Read More
So what do you do if need to get a... Read More
Making maximum profit from your law firm website is important,... Read More
1. Be clear on your purpose.Building a website can be... Read More
Web Development |