Customer Session

Auth.js (opens in a new tab) manages session persistence by issuing a session cookie that embeds a JWT along with session data. In Catalyst, this session data includes the customer access token (opens in a new tab), which allows your app to authenticate shoppers without storing session data on the server.

In any request, the session cookie authenticates the customer with the Catalyst app, while a customer access token authenticates them with BigCommerce so that you can add customer-specific context to many GraphQL operations. BigCommerce uses the customer access token to associate the request with the authenticated shopper and return personalized customer data.

Here's how the flow works in Catalyst:

  1. Anonymous session: BigCommerce generates an anonymous session as soon as any shopper hits the storefront for the first time. Catalyst then updates this session with a customer access token when a shopper logs in.

  2. Customer Access Token Issuance: BigCommerce automatically issues a customer access token upon successful login (via password or JWT).

  3. Storage in Auth.js Session: The customer access token is automatically stored within the session managed by Auth.js. With Auth.js, the callbacks.jwt function ensures that this token is embedded within the JWT when the user logs in, while the callbacks.session function makes the token accessible in the session object.

  4. Session Retrieval: When your app needs session data, it calls the auth() function, which retrieves the session object containing the customer access token.

  5. Authentication Flow for when your app needs to interact with BigCommerce on behalf of the customer:

    • You must retrieve the customer access token from the session cookie so that your app can use it. Catalyst comes with a getSessionCustomerAccessToken utility function to help you do so.
    • In the request to BigCommerce, you need to then include the customer access token and define the caching strategy accordingly. If you are fetching a query with customer-specific information, you need to set the cache value to no-store so guest shoppers don't receive customer-specific information. For a full example, see the Catalyst Client reference.

import { getSessionCustomerAccessToken } from '~/auth';
 
const customerAccessToken = await getSessionCustomerAccessToken();
 
const response = await client.fetch({
  document:  // query or mutation
  customerAccessToken,
  fetchOptions: customerAccessToken ? { cache: 'no-store' } : { next: { revalidate } },
});

Built-in functionality supported by the customer context

The customer context derived from the customer access token supports a variety of built-in functionalities. These functionalities are tied to the authenticated customer's session and allow for personalized and secure interactions with the BigCommerce API.

  1. Order History – Retrieve the customer's order history, including order status, total amount, shipping details, and line items.
  2. Personalized Cart Data – Access the customer's cart, including line items, quantities, pricing, and selected options.
  3. Customer Group-Based Pricing – Apply customer group-specific pricing rules to products and cart items.
  4. Customer Group-Based Catalog Visibility – Restrict or allow access to specific products or categories based on the customer's group.
  5. Account Information – Retrieve customer account details such as name, email, and company information.
  6. Address Management – Access and manage customer shipping and billing addresses.
  7. Checkout Redirection – Generate a personalized checkout URL for the customer.
  8. Tax and Currency Settings – Apply tax and currency settings based on the customer's location and account.
  9. Personalized Promotions – Apply promotions and discounts specific to the customer or their group.
  10. Wishlist and Saved Items – Access and manage the customer's wishlist or saved items.
  11. Customer-Specific Product Recommendations – Provide personalized product recommendations based on the customer's purchase history or preferences.
  12. Customer-Specific Shipping Options – Display shipping options tailored to the customer's address and preferences.
  13. Customer-Specific Tax Exemptions – Apply tax exemptions for eligible customers (e.g., wholesale customers or tax-exempt organizations).
Environment variablesMiddleware