AppwriteException: User (role: guest) missing scope (account), not able to get account after creating a session

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05-10-2024

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AppwriteException: "User (role: guest) missing scope (account)" - Understanding and Fixing Session Scope Issues

Scenario:

You're building an app using Appwrite, a powerful backend-as-a-service platform. You successfully create a user session but when attempting to retrieve the user's account information, you encounter the error "AppwriteException: User (role: guest) missing scope (account)". This error implies that your guest user, despite having an active session, lacks the necessary permissions to access their own account details.

Code Example:

// Assuming you have a valid Appwrite client instance 
const appwrite = new Appwrite();

// Authenticate a guest user
const session = await appwrite.account.createSession();

// Attempt to get the user's account information
const account = await appwrite.account.get();

// This will trigger the AppwriteException: "User (role: guest) missing scope (account)" error

Understanding the Issue:

Appwrite employs a granular permission system based on "scopes". Scopes define the specific actions a user can perform, like accessing their account, managing files, or sending emails. By default, guest users have limited permissions, typically excluding access to their account details.

Resolving the Error:

1. Authentication with User Roles:

   • When creating a new session, specify a role with appropriate permissions.
   • For example, instead of a simple guest user, create a session with a role like "basic_user" that grants access to account details.

   const session = await appwrite.account.createSession({
       userId: 'unique_user_id',
       role: 'basic_user' // Use a role that allows account access
   }); 
   

2. Explicit Scope Request:

   • Instead of relying on the default guest user's permissions, explicitly request the "account" scope during session creation.
   • This grants your session access to the user's account information.

   const session = await appwrite.account.createSession({ 
       scopes: ['account'] // Explicitly request account access 
   });
   

3. Using a "Standard User" Role:

   • If you need users to have full access to their accounts, create a user role like "standard" with broad permissions.
   • When creating the session, assign this role to the user.
   • Remember to configure the "standard" role with the necessary permissions in your Appwrite dashboard.

Best Practices:

• Avoid using guest user sessions for operations that require account data. Guest users are intended for limited actions like viewing public content.
• Design user roles strategically. Create roles that reflect your app's specific functionalities and permissions.
• Use the "standard" user role when a full account experience is needed.
• Always explicitly request the "account" scope if you need access to user account details.

Additional Information:

• Appwrite Documentation: Refer to the official Appwrite documentation for detailed information about user roles, scopes, and session management: https://appwrite.io/docs/
• Appwrite Community: Engage with the Appwrite community forum for assistance and discussions: https://community.appwrite.io/

By understanding scopes and implementing these best practices, you can effectively manage user permissions and avoid the "AppwriteException: User (role: guest) missing scope (account)" error in your applications.