MongoDB Firebase Cloud Functions Training – Decode Refresh Token: Secure Auth Workflows!

Welcome to Part 4 of the MongoDB Firebase Cloud Functions Training series! In this lesson, we dive into the authentication layer by learning how to decode Firebase Refresh Tokens inside Cloud Functions. This is essential for validating users, managing sessions, and ensuring secure communication between the client and your backend services.

You’ll implement token decoding and verification to extract critical user details and guard your APIs with confidence.

✅ What You’ll Learn in This Video:

✔️ What refresh tokens are and how Firebase uses them
✔️ How to securely decode and verify ID tokens using the Firebase Admin SDK
✔️ Extracting user UID, email, and other claims from decoded tokens
✔️ Handling token expiration and invalid tokens gracefully
✔️ Real-world use case: protect a MongoDB write function with auth verification

💡 Why This Step Matters:

🔹 Adds a critical security layer to all your serverless functions
🔹 Helps build authenticated, personalized user experiences
🔹 Sets the foundation for role-based access control and protected API endpoints