Add a hidden input field honeypot to deter spam bots, enhance deliverability, and prevent spam issues. Explore additional tips for form security.

Boost sign-up form security with invisible honeypot fields to catch spam bots. Discover effective techniques for handling bot submissions in your app.

Honeypot Fields in Sign Up Forms

[00:00] Let's go to our sign up form right here and we can get rid of this We're going to be using our form data and in our sign up route. We want to render a hidden div Within which we will place our label and our input. So let's make a div and

[00:17] These bots these spam bots are really most of the time not very sophisticated in there It's too expensive to run them at their scale and actually evaluate the JavaScript on the page So they don't do a whole lot of parsing. So for the most part, it's actually safe to just say style display none and

[00:35] Where like clearly the browser is not going to display this to users and all of that It is possible that there are some spam bots that are a little bit more sophisticated and will actually compute whether a field is visible But in my experience just having a display none or having something positioned well off the screen is sufficient

[00:54] So let's also add a label doesn't need to look nice because obviously like it's not going to look like anything It's not going to show up, but we're going to add a label. Anyway, this is going to say please leave this field blank Again, these spam bots are not very smart. They're not going to read that label what they care about is the

[01:14] Name of the field. So we're going to add an input with a name name. This would be like the first name When I have done this on my website, I'll see these spam bots sending this data with just some random name so that's what they're looking at is What is the name of the input and I will put something that's sensible

[01:34] You could also put like home page or email or phone Or whatever and they will just fill it in with some random thing that matches up with that You could even do something like name double underscore confirm And so I confirm your name is what the bot kind of interprets that to mean and they'll they'll just fill it in with the name

[01:52] Again, like these bots will can evolve on everything and that's why using a library is a good idea Which we will get to in a second, but I want you to understand kind of what the library is doing here we're also going to say type is text and Let's associate this properly because in the unlikely event that a screen reader does read this out to a user

[02:13] It would at least be nice for us to make that experience good so that the screen reader user knows oh, we're not supposed to fill out this field, so we'll say HTML 4 and We'll say this is our name input and then we'll have ID name

[02:28] Whoops input. There we go. And that takes care of the UI side of all this So now we've got our input right there. It's display none It's not going to show up there and then we just need to check if the name exists and if it does then we're going

[02:46] To throw a 400 response and you may recall that we actually have a utility called invariant response Which defaults to throwing a 400 response so we can just say form data get name and if that Exists at all if that's truthy then we're going to say form not submitted properly

[03:07] I try to avoid sending back anything that sends honeypot anywhere because I don't want their logs to see Oh this person like this site Point on a honeypot. We will send our more advanced spam bot over to them. We'll just say

[03:23] Something went wrong and and they'll just see that in their logs and be like, okay, I guess we did it wrong No, what no big deal, whatever so it's kind of difficult to get into the mind of these spam bot authors because I'm personally not a spam bot author, but It seems to me that at least looking in my logs and and of the things that I have done and things that I've read that

[03:44] Doing like this basic minimal stuff gets you The you are no longer the low-hanging fruit. That's kind of the idea there. Okay, so with that we can add Just actually first probably good to make sure that it still works So you say a at B dot C or com whatever we're getting 400 form not submitted properly and that is because yes

[04:06] I did this invariant and incorrectly So if it is not equal to or if it is equal to an empty string, then that's good Otherwise, we'll throw this. So let's try that again a at B comm and that works just fine and then if I say

[04:25] a at B comm and then update this In the same like submit where we're basically trying to simulate what a bot would do And even though the bot is not going to actually pull up a full browser and execute this typically They'll just do us some sort of script

[04:44] We're going to simulate that by going to the console and we'll say zero dot value equals hello And then when I create account form not submitted properly, they'll get that and they'll be like, oh I our bot just wasn't good enough, but these bots get errors all the time because they're not very smart and so this would be kind of an

[05:04] Expected thing for them. They just move on So a really quick review a honeypot field is really pretty straightforward and simple It's just a field that a regular user would not possibly could not or would not fill in It is a good idea to give it a proper label that tells the user don't fill this field in

[05:24] But it's even better or on top of that you just make it so that the user won't Focus on this thing by putting display none that focus won't happen. You could also add a tab index of zero Or sorry of negative one so that they can't tab into it that would also

[05:45] be helpful, but again The the fundamental concept here is just an input that a bot would probably fill in but a user would not and then you check whether that input has been filled in and if it has then you can assume that it was a bot and that is the basic implementation of

[06:04] Doing a honeypot field. You definitely probably want to do like a library, which is what we're going to do next So hope that was fun. Let's move on

Adding a Honeypot to Protect Against Spam Bots

[00:00] On our signup page, we want to add a honeypot so that random spam bots can't just fill in the email and have us sending emails to a bunch of people all over the place to get them to sign up for our service. That would be really bad for the people, would be super annoying for them, really bad for

[00:15] us because we would get marked as spam and then our deliverability would be bad, all of that stuff. So for that reason, we need to have an input that only a bot would fill out on here. So you're going to need to add an input and then make it hidden so that regular users can't accidentally fill it in

[00:35] and then also check it on the server to see if it was filled in, then we know it was a bot and we will not actually process the signup. We haven't actually implemented signup yet and we'll get to that at a future workshop, but yeah, we're going to be doing some stuff with forms so that's why

[00:51] we're doing honeypot right here on this new signup page. So go ahead and fill that in. We've got a little bit of extra credit there for you too. The emoji will guide you. Have a good time!

Forms are the primary mechanism for interactivity on the web.

But for all of their importance, forms can be incredibly frustrating for developers and users alike.

There are a lot of moving parts to consider: 

You need to validate user input and handle complex data structures, while being secure from bots and data-stealing attacks. The UI should inform users of any issues as quickly as possible, and be accessible for all.

The Professional Web Forms Workshop will equip you with the tools to handle all of these challenges and more.

## Form Validation

HTML has several attributes built-in that help with form element validation. Unfortunately, they're not enough on their own. On the client-side, bad actors can bypass checks by manually adding the `novalidate` attribute or making requests directly. On the server side, there's no standard way to respond to validation errors other than a generic 400 status code.

In this section, you'll implement a base level of form validation:

- Essential HTML attributes for validation
- Server-side validation with JSON responses
- Displaying errors with the `useActionData` hook
- Disabling default browser validation messages with `useHydrated`

## Accessibility

Accessibility is often an afterthought, but should be a priority. While forms are just one part of the accessibility equation, they're a big one. In this section, you'll learn how to make sure your forms accessible and usable by all of your application's users:

- Properly associating labels with input fields
- Adding appropriate ARIA attributes when necessary
- Manage keyboard focus in response to errors and user interactions
- Creating and using a `useFocus` hook to direct the user’s focus
- Considerations for accessibility testing

## Schema-Based Validation

Manually writing conditional checks for every field in every form is tedious and error-prone: *Is there content in the field? Is it the right type? Is it within the acceptable range? There must be a better way!*

Fortunately, the combination of the Zod and Conform libraries makes it easy to define reusable declarative schemas to validate form data on the client and server:

- Safely replace HTML validation attributes with schemas
- Zod error handling & message customization
- Progressively enhanced validation with Conform
- Share type-safe validation logic between client and server

## File Uploads

Forms need to support more than just text. Images, videos, audio files, and other documents need a different type of input. Depending on the size of the file, you'll have considerations for how and where it is uploaded. In this section, you'll learn how to handle file uploads in a secure and efficient way:

- Uploading images from an `ImageChooser` component
- Handling file uploads on the server
- Schema validation for file uploads with Zod

## Complex Data Structures

The `FormData` API does not support representing objects or arrays– only key/value pairs. It also won't allow you to nest forms within each other. This makes representing complex data structures difficult without jumping through some hoops. Luckily for us, Conform has a great solution when your forms get complex. Here you'll practice:

- Infer field types with Zod
- Nesting objects as a form
- Represent arrays of fields with the `useFieldList` utility
- Add and remove items with Conform's `intent` buttons

## Spam Prevention with Honeypots

Spam bots are constantly crawling the web, looking for forms to submit junk data to boost their client’s search engine rankings and find holes in your security. This can strain server resources, contaminate databases, and cause other unforeseen consequences. One way to combat this is by using a "honeypot", which will prevent a form from being submitted by a bot. This section will teach you how to:

- Create a simple hidden-field validation
- Add a configurable honeypot instance to an action
- Prevent form submissions that are too fast
- Use environment variables for encryption seeds

## CSRF Protection

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks are a type of malicious exploit where a user is tricked into performing an action they did not intend to. This is usually done by embedding a link or form in a page that the user is already authenticated to. Think of a user logged into their bank account clicking a link that transfers money from their bank account to the attacker's. To prevent this type of attack, you'll want to:

- Create a signed cookie in the user's browser
- Include unique user tokens in forms
- Validate tokens on the server via request headers

## Rate Limiting

You definitely want to prevent bad actors from making tons of requests to try to brute-force their way into your app or cause general chaos. However, malicious intent and spam aren't the only reasons you need to protect your site. Even too many legitimate requests can cause problems. Rate limiting is a way to prevent users from overloading your server with requests. Here you'll learn:

- Considerations for different limits for `GET` vs. `POST` requests
- Implementing basic rate limiting with Express middleware
- Tiered rate limiting depending on which form is being submitted

The Professional Web Forms Workshop will equip you for building complex, fully accessible forms that handle validation and file uploads while preventing spam.

Professional Web Forms

Kent C. Dodds

Full Stack Vol 1

Intro to Professional Web Forms Workshop

Introduction to Workshop

Intro to Form Validation 

Discover the importance of validation in web apps. Learn to implement required field validation for data integrity and UX enhancement.

Leverage HTML attributes for form validation, enhancing UX and accessibility. Explore browser validation and screen reader integration for user guidance.

Form Validation for Accessibility

Required Field Validation for User Input

Implement server-side validation to enhance security and user assistance, preventing client-side bypass. Customize error messages for a seamless design.

Master server-side form validation for data integrity and user-friendly error messages. Enhance UX by securely validating input before server processing.

Server-Side Form Validation and Error Handling

Server-side Validation and Custom Error Messages

Prevent incorrect form submissions pre-JavaScript with novalidate attribute using useHydrated hook. Elevate UX, maintain data integrity.

Optimize form validation with 'useHydrated' hook for client-side hydration. Enhance UX with browser-built and server-side validation synergy.

Form Validation with Client-Side Hydration

Dynamic Error Validation with Hooks

Dad Joke Break From Validation

Form Validation

Intro to Accessibility

Learn how to troubleshoot and fix issues with a non-functioning reset button and accessibility problems in a web form.

Learn how to properly associate buttons and form elements, such as the reset button, with their respective forms for improved functionality and accessibility.

Improving Accessibility and Form Associations

Fixing Form Reset Button and Accessibility Issues

Associate error messages with input fields via ARIA attributes for precise screen reader notifications. Learn about semantic HTML and ARIA for accessibility.

Use ARIA attributes like ARIA invalid & describedby. Link error messages to inputs for improved screen reader support, aiding assistive tech users.

Accessible Forms with ARIA Attributes

Error Messages and Accessibility with ARIA Attributes

Enhance app accessibility & UX with focus management: auto-focus error fields, programmable forms, & better editing. Create an inclusive, user-friendly app.

Enhance React app accessibility and UX: auto-focus form inputs and navigate to error messages for improved handling of form errors.

Managing Focus for Form Errors

Focus Management for Better User Experience

Dad Break Joke Accessibility

Accessibility

Intro to Schema Validation

Optimize development with Zod schema validation. Boost efficiency and code robustness, replacing custom logic for an enhanced developer experience. 

Learn how to implement schema validation using Zod in a note editor application. Discover how to define and enforce data

Schema Validation with Zod 

Schema Validation 

Data parsing with Conform's Conform utility. Apply server-side logic and streamline development with additional UI utilities for efficient form handling.

Improve UX & enable progressive enhancement: Replace form validation & error handling with powerful Zod utility in your app

 Form Submission and Error Handling with Conform & Zod

Form Data Parsing with Conform

Enhance UI with Conform's React utilities for end-to-end type safety. Leverage progressive enhancement for a fabulous development experience.

Eliminate custom code for better UX. Seamlessly manage form submission and client-side validation with Conform, ensuring robust server-side validation

Simplifying Form Handling with Conform and Schema Validation

Type Safety with Conform

Dad Joke Break Schema Validation

Schema Validation

Intro to File Upload

Add file upload to edit page for user-friendly image & file attachments. Handle uploads in Remix, enforcing size limits. 

Integrate image upload with form data and memory handling. Use image chooser, manage existing images, set encoding, size limit, and specify alt text. 

Image Upload with Form Data and Memory Upload Handling

File Upload Functionality 

Improve code quality and address TypeScript errors for a robust application, making Lily the life jacket (and yourself) happy.

Update schema for image ID, alt text, and file uploads. Master file validation with Zod for size restrictions and error handling on client & server sides. 

Validating File Uploads with Zod Schema in a Web Application

TypeScript Integration

Dad Joke Break File Upload

File Upload

Intro to Complex Structures 

Address challenges in grouping properties into sub-objects in forms, especially for multiple image uploads. Satisfy Zod's requirements for seamless integration.

Learn to add image field set schema to Zod schema, update HTML elements, and integrate with Conform for type safety and form functionality. 

Implementing Image Field Set with Conform and TypeScript

Grouping and Managing Related Fields in Form Objects

Update your app's schema for multiple images, adapt actions/components, and enable seamless addition/removal of multiple images for an enhanced user experience.

Master dynamic image lists with Qualifax: add and remove images effortlessly. Update schema, implement field sets, and iterate through image choosers with ease.

Dynamic Image Lists with Field Sets 

Multiple Image Uploading 

Dynamic image addition and deletion with alt text functionality, progressive enhancements, and input submission using Conform utilities in web development

Master dynamic button generation for form accessibility using Conform utilities. Modify field sets with list functions, explore progressive enhancement.

Dynamically Delete and Add Buttons

 Interactive Image Management

Dad Joke Break Complex Structures 

Complex Structures

Intro to Honeypot

Protect your website from spam bots with automatic updates to Honeypot configurations.

Enhance security with Remix Utils Honeypot fields. Customize divs, ARIA, and server-side validation to deter spam. Best practices for errors and HTTP codes.

Honeypot Fields for Form Security

Honeypot Protection with `remix-utils`

Efficiently implement Honeypot security on forms: Transfer server data to client for reliable bot protection.

Implement honeypot protection: Create provider, configure props, render components, prevent quick form submission, thwart automated bots.

Honeypot Protection

Honeypots for Form Security 

Ensure consistent Honeypot encryption secret across servers and regions for form data integrity and conflict avoidance

Securely add honeypot secret to server validation, configure in local .env for data protection.

Setting Up Honeypot Security for Server Environment Variables

Consistent Encryption with Honeypot Server

Dad Joke Break Honeypot

Honeypot

Intro to CSRF

Implement CSRF protection: Generate tokens, set secure cookies, associate with clients, and use environment variables.

Implement Node.js CSRF utility: Generate tokens, secure cookies, prevent cross-site request forgery attacks.  

Creating and Managing CSRF Tokens With Node.js

CSRF Protection with Cookies 

Protect user data with authenticity tokens: Render, verify, and enhance user experience.

Secure forms with Authenticity Token input and CSRF validation for protection against tampering. Improve security and error responses.

Security with Authenticity Token and CSRF Validation

Authenticity With Token Protection 

Dad Joke Break CSRF

Cross-Site Request Forgery

Intro to Rate Limit 

Learn how to implement rate limiting middleware in Express for efficient resource management in your server.

Safeguarding Your Server: Adding Rate Limit Configuration

Optimizing Your Express Server with Rate Limiting Middleware

Implement tiered rate limiting: Strong for sign-up/login, moderate for posts, and general defense. Custom middleware assigns tiers.

Professional Web Forms

Professional Web Forms

Transcript

Adding a Honeypot to Protect Against Spam Bots

Transcript