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Firebase Auth & Realtime Database Apps · Lesson

Facebook & GitHub Authentication

Add Facebook and GitHub as authentication providers, configuring your app and Firebase for social logins.

Facebook & GitHub Authentication is a free Firebase Auth & Realtime Database Apps lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 2 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Firebase Auth & Realtime Database Apps learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.

Social Logins: Facebook & GitHub

Welcome! In this lesson, we'll dive into integrating two popular social login options: Facebook and GitHub.

Using social providers like these can significantly improve the user experience by offering quick, familiar sign-up and login methods.

Why Offer Social Logins?

Social logins provide a seamless experience for your users. Here's why they're great:

  • Convenience: Users can sign in with accounts they already have.
  • Reduced Friction: No need to create new usernames or passwords.
  • Trust: Users often feel more secure using established platforms.
  • Faster Onboarding: Quick access to your app's features.

Facebook App Setup: Developer Console

Before enabling Facebook login in Firebase, you need to create an app on the Facebook for Developers platform.

  • Go to developers.facebook.com and create a new app.
  • Choose the 'Consumer' type for typical user authentication.
  • Note down your App ID and App Secret; you'll need them for Firebase.

Facebook Login Product Configuration

After creating your Facebook app, you must configure the 'Facebook Login' product:

  • In your Facebook App Dashboard, add the 'Facebook Login' product.
  • Under 'Settings' for Facebook Login, ensure 'Web OAuth Login' is enabled.
  • Add your Firebase OAuth redirect URI (found in Firebase Auth settings) to 'Valid OAuth Redirect URIs'. This is crucial for security.

Firebase Console: Enable Facebook

Now, let's enable Facebook as an authentication provider in Firebase:

  1. Navigate to the Authentication section in your Firebase project console.
  2. Go to the 'Sign-in method' tab.
  3. Click 'Add new provider' and select Facebook.
  4. Paste your Facebook App ID and App Secret into the fields provided.
  5. Make sure to enable the provider and save your changes!

Code: Facebook Sign-In

Once configured, you can use the Firebase SDK to sign in users with Facebook. This JavaScript example shows the core logic, typically triggered by a button.

/* This is a conceptual example for web/JS.
   Firebase SDK must be initialized before use. */

// 1. Get Auth instance & Facebook provider
const auth = firebase.auth();
const provider = new firebase.auth.FacebookAuthProvider();

// 2. Define the sign-in function
function signInWithFacebook() {
  console.log("Attempting Facebook sign-in...");
  auth.signInWithPopup(provider)
    .then((result) => {
      // User successfully signed in
      const user = result.user;
      console.log("Logged in as:", user.displayName);
    })
    .catch((error) => {
      // Handle errors (e.g., user cancelled, network error)
      console.error("Facebook login failed:", error.message);
    });
}

// Call the function (in a real app, this is a button click)
signInWithFacebook();

GitHub App Setup: Developer Console

Integrating GitHub is similar to Facebook. First, you need to create an OAuth App on GitHub:

  • Go to github.com/settings/developers.
  • Click 'New OAuth App'.
  • Fill in the 'Application name', 'Homepage URL'.
  • For 'Authorization callback URL', use your Firebase OAuth redirect URI.
  • Click 'Register application' and note your Client ID and Client Secret.

Firebase Console: Enable GitHub

Next, enable GitHub as an authentication provider in your Firebase project:

  1. In the Firebase console, go to Authentication > Sign-in method.
  2. Click 'Add new provider' and select GitHub.
  3. Paste your GitHub Client ID and Client Secret into the respective fields.
  4. Enable the provider and save your changes.

The Firebase OAuth redirect URI for GitHub will be displayed here, ensure it matches what you entered on GitHub.

Code: GitHub Sign-In

Just like Facebook, once GitHub is configured, you can use the Firebase SDK to sign in users. This JavaScript snippet illustrates the process.

/* This is a conceptual example for web/JS.
   Firebase SDK must be initialized before use. */

// 1. Get Auth instance & GitHub provider
const auth = firebase.auth();
const provider = new firebase.auth.GithubAuthProvider();

// 2. Define the sign-in function
function signInWithGitHub() {
  console.log("Attempting GitHub sign-in...");
  auth.signInWithPopup(provider)
    .then((result) => {
      // User successfully signed in
      const user = result.user;
      console.log("Logged in as:", user.displayName);
    })
    .catch((error) => {
      // Handle errors (e.g., user cancelled, network error)
      console.error("GitHub login failed:", error.message);
    });
}

// Call the function (in a real app, this is a button click)
signInWithGitHub();

Quick Check: Social Login Setup

You've learned the steps to integrate social logins. Which of these are essential for setting up a new social authentication provider (like Facebook or GitHub) with Firebase?

Recap: Facebook & GitHub Auth

Great job! In this lesson, you learned how to add Facebook and GitHub authentication to your Firebase project.

  • We covered creating developer apps on each platform.
  • You saw how to configure the necessary settings, including OAuth redirect URIs.
  • Finally, we enabled these providers in the Firebase console and looked at conceptual code for signing users in.

Social logins simplify user onboarding and enhance your app's accessibility!

Frequently asked questions

Is the “Facebook & GitHub Authentication” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “Facebook & GitHub Authentication” is free to read here on the web, and the Firebase Auth & Realtime Database Apps course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Firebase Auth & Realtime Database Apps course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.

What will I learn in “Facebook & GitHub Authentication”?

Add Facebook and GitHub as authentication providers, configuring your app and Firebase for social logins. You practise Firebase Auth & Realtime Database Apps with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start Firebase Auth & Realtime Database Apps?

No prior experience is required. Firebase Auth & Realtime Database Apps on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 2 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.

How long does the “Facebook & GitHub Authentication” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this Firebase Auth & Realtime Database Apps lesson?

Yes. Every Firebase Auth & Realtime Database Apps lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

All lessons in this course

  1. Google Sign-In Integration
  2. Facebook & GitHub Authentication
  3. Anonymous & Custom Auth
  4. Apple Sign-In Integration
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