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

[00:00] Let's go to our sign up and we'll come here and swap out this section with the Honeypot inputs from Remix Utils. And if we take a look at this now, we'll see we've got this div now has an ID,

[00:14] an ARIA hidden true and style display none. It also has a label that says please leave this field blank, that is customizable. And we also have the input, that's the actual Honeypot. It also includes an autocomplete nope, so that the browsers won't autocomplete things. So again,

[00:32] having a library for something like this, really great idea because it allows us to cover cases that we may not have thought of ourselves. And then on top of this, we could actually just change this to name double underscore confirm just to match what the library is doing. But it'd be even

[00:48] better if the library can validate its own Honeypot. And so what we're going to do is come in here to utils and make a Honeypot.server to handle the server side of all of our Honeypot stuff.

[01:00] And so we're going to make a Honeypot object from new Honeypot from Remix Utils. And then we're also going to export that. And then you can configure this in a bunch of different ways. We're going

[01:14] to leave it blank for right now. We'll save this over here. And now we can use that Honeypot with a check on our form data and save that. Then if we fill this in incorrectly, so we add

[01:31] a value to this, we say $0 value equals high, and then submit A at B.com. And now we get Honeypot input not empty. So that's exactly what we were looking for. If we try again A at B.com, uh-oh,

[01:47] we're missing Honeypot valid from input. So this is kind of a tricky thing. But there is a feature of Honeypots or the Honeypot utility from Remix Utils that will check how quickly the Honeypot

[02:02] was filled in. And so the valid from input is a special input that will be rendered in some cases to say this is when this form was generated in the first place. And we're not rendering that

[02:17] right now because our setup is not totally complete here. So what we need to do is actually disable that for right now. So we're going to say valid from field name is null to disable that

[02:30] particular field and that check. So if we come over here again and try this A at B.com, then that will work. We'll dive in a little bit deeper on this particular field in the next step.

[02:44] So in review, we removed our own custom Honeypot and added the Honeypot fields input from our Remix Util. And that rendered for us this div with the label and input similar to what we

[03:02] had before, which is maybe a little bit more thought out. And then we have this Honeypot.check that we call with the form data so it can do its check. Now we do still have this extra credit that we'll talk about here really quick. What this does is it's going to throw an error and it's just

[03:18] like a regular error. So if I add a value to this again and say A at B.com, then the error that we get is caught by our error boundary. It looks fine. If we look at our network though, that's

[03:32] going to be a 500 error. 500 error says I did something wrong, not you. That's incorrect. We don't want to send a 500 error. So we're going to follow through with this extra credit right here and we're going to move this in a try catch. And it will say if the error is an instance of a spam

[03:51] error from our Honeypot server util, then we can throw a new response that says invalid form and status 400. And otherwise we'll just throw the error because we don't know. Maybe there was

[04:09] something weird that happened and that is a server error. So let's try this once more. This is the last time for this step of the exercise. Add that value to A at B.com and boom, we get a 400

[04:21] invalid form. We look at the network and here it is. We get that status of 400 exactly as we desired. So that is how you do the very basic implementation of the Honeypot from RemixUtils. We've got some more work to do though, so let's keep moving forward.

Honeypot Protection with `remix-utils`

[00:00] Doing things manually the way that we're doing right now is probably not the best. As these spam bots evolve and everything, it'd be nice to kind of get automatic updates to our Honeypot stuff. So we're going to use a utility for this, and the utility we're using is RemixUtils. It has a Honeypot utility for us.

[00:17] And so you're going to be using that both on the client side and in the UI with Honeypot inputs component, as well as on the server side, we're going to create a Honeypot class that we're going to use to configure the way our Honeypot works. And then we can use that to check our Honeypot.

[00:34] So go forth and implement the Honeypot utility from RemixUtils.

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

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

Adding a Honeypot to Protect Against Spam Bots

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

Honeypot Protection with `remix-utils`

Transcript