Resolving Firebase Phone Authentication Errors in Chrome Web Extensions

Solution 1: Setting Up Firebase Phone Authentication with React for Chrome Extensions

This script demonstrates a modular front-end approach using JavaScript and React. It includes best practices like error handling, input validation, and optimization for extensions.

import React, { useState } from 'react';
import { auth } from './firebaseConfig';
import { RecaptchaVerifier, signInWithPhoneNumber } from 'firebase/auth';
const PhoneAuth = () => {
  const [phoneNumber, setPhoneNumber] = useState('');
  const [otp, setOtp] = useState('');
  const [verificationId, setVerificationId] = useState(null);
  const [error, setError] = useState('');
  const [message, setMessage] = useState('');
  const setupRecaptcha = () => {
    if (!window.recaptchaVerifier) {
      window.recaptchaVerifier = new RecaptchaVerifier(auth, 'recaptcha-container', {
        size: 'invisible',
        callback: () => {},
        'expired-callback': () => console.log('reCAPTCHA expired')
      });
    }
  };
  const sendOtp = async () => {
    try {
      setError('');
      setMessage('');
      setupRecaptcha();
      const appVerifier = window.recaptchaVerifier;
      const formattedPhoneNumber = '+' + phoneNumber.replace(/\D/g, '');
      const confirmationResult = await signInWithPhoneNumber(auth, formattedPhoneNumber, appVerifier);
      setVerificationId(confirmationResult.verificationId);
      setMessage('OTP sent successfully');
    } catch (err) {
      setError('Error sending OTP: ' + err.message);
      if (window.recaptchaVerifier) window.recaptchaVerifier.clear();
    }
  };
  return (
    <div style={{ margin: '20px' }}>
      <h2>Phone Authentication</h2>
      <div id="recaptcha-container"></div>
      <input
        type="text"
        placeholder="Enter phone number with country code (e.g., +1234567890)"
        value={phoneNumber}
        onChange={(e) => setPhoneNumber(e.target.value)}
        style={{ marginBottom: '5px' }}
      />
      <button onClick={sendOtp}>Send OTP</button>
      {message && <p style={{ color: 'green' }}>{message}</p>}
      {error && <p style={{ color: 'red' }}>{error}</p>}
    </div>
  );
};
export default PhoneAuth;

Solution 2: Backend Node.js Script with Firebase Admin SDK for Secure OTP Generation

This back-end Node.js script configures Firebase Admin SDK for OTP generation and verification, optimized for secure phone authentication.

const admin = require('firebase-admin');
const serviceAccount = require('./path/to/serviceAccountKey.json');
admin.initializeApp({
  credential: admin.credential.cert(serviceAccount),
  databaseURL: 'https://your-database-name.firebaseio.com'
});
async function sendOtp(phoneNumber) {
  try {
    const sessionInfo = await admin.auth().createSessionCookie(phoneNumber, { expiresIn: 3600000 });
    console.log('OTP sent successfully', sessionInfo);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error sending OTP:', error.message);
  }
}
async function verifyOtp(sessionInfo, otpCode) {
  try {
    const decodedToken = await admin.auth().verifyIdToken(otpCode);
    console.log('OTP verified successfully');
    return decodedToken;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error verifying OTP:', error.message);
    return null;
  }
}
module.exports = { sendOtp, verifyOtp };

Solution 3: Test Suite with Jest for Front-End Phone Authentication Logic

Unit tests for React components and Firebase functions using Jest to ensure front-end stability.

import { render, screen, fireEvent } from '@testing-library/react';
import PhoneAuth from './PhoneAuth';
import { auth } from './firebaseConfig';
import { RecaptchaVerifier, signInWithPhoneNumber } from 'firebase/auth';
jest.mock('firebase/auth');
test('sends OTP when button is clicked', async () => {
  render(<PhoneAuth />);
  const phoneInput = screen.getByPlaceholderText(/Enter phone number/);
  const sendOtpButton = screen.getByText(/Send OTP/);
  fireEvent.change(phoneInput, { target: { value: '+1234567890' } });
  fireEvent.click(sendOtpButton);
  expect(signInWithPhoneNumber).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
});

Common Questions on Firebase Phone Authentication in Chrome Extensions

1. What does the “auth/internal-error” mean in Firebase authentication?
2. This error typically indicates a configuration issue or a blocked request. Ensure that you’ve whitelisted the necessary domains in your Firebase settings and that signInWithPhoneNumber is set up correctly.
3. Why is reCAPTCHA verification failing in my Chrome extension?
4. reCAPTCHA can fail in Chrome extensions due to its specific security environment. Use RecaptchaVerifier with the correct configuration, and ensure that your extension’s domains are whitelisted.
5. How can I ensure that phone numbers are correctly formatted?
6. Using replace(/\D/g, '') removes non-numeric characters, ensuring the phone number is in international format with a country code (e.g., +1234567890).
7. How do I reset reCAPTCHA after an error?
8. Clearing reCAPTCHA is essential after an error to avoid reusing old instances. You can do this using window.recaptchaVerifier.clear(), followed by reinitializing it.
9. Can I use Firebase Admin SDK in a Chrome extension?
10. Direct usage of Firebase Admin SDK isn’t allowed in client-side code due to security reasons. Instead, create a backend service with Admin SDK to handle sensitive tasks securely.
11. How do I test Firebase authentication in a Chrome extension?
12. Testing involves using a combination of Chrome extension debugging tools and Jest for unit tests. You can mock Firebase authentication using jest.mock for efficient testing.
13. Is it possible to bypass reCAPTCHA in Firebase authentication?
14. No, reCAPTCHA is essential for security and cannot be bypassed. However, you can use size: 'invisible' in your configuration for a seamless user experience.
15. Can I use Firebase phone authentication offline?
16. Phone authentication requires an internet connection to validate the OTP with Firebase servers, so it can’t be used offline. Consider alternative methods for offline authentication.
17. What should I do if Firebase is blocking my OTP requests?
18. Check if Firebase’s Security Rules or anti-abuse settings are blocking the requests. Also, confirm that the extension’s domain is whitelisted to avoid blocked requests.
19. What happens if my extension’s OTP fails repeatedly?
20. Persistent OTP failures could indicate rate limiting or a configuration error. Clear the reCAPTCHA, retry, and consider testing on different devices to identify the issue.

Resolving Firebase Authentication Errors in Chrome Extensions

Resolving Firebase authentication errors in a Chrome extension requires careful configuration, especially around reCAPTCHA and domain settings. Ensuring the extension’s URL is correctly whitelisted in Firebase and confirming that reCAPTCHA functions as expected are key first steps.

Once Firebase is configured, a secure and seamless OTP flow can be achieved by addressing any code-based errors with precise, user-friendly error messages. This helps users correct issues themselves, minimizing interruptions and making the experience more reliable. Following these steps, you can offer robust phone authentication within your Chrome extension. 🔧