# Slack OAuth
The `@slack/oauth` package makes it simple to setup the OAuth flow for Slack apps. It supports [V2 OAuth](https://api.slack.com/authentication/oauth-v2) for Slack Apps as well as [V1 OAuth](https://api.slack.com/docs/oauth) for [Classic Slack apps](https://api.slack.com/authentication/quickstart). Slack apps that are installed in multiple workspaces, like in the App Directory or in an Enterprise Grid, will need to implement OAuth and store information about each of those installations (such as access tokens).
The package handles URL generation, state verification, and authorization code exchange for access tokens. It also provides an interface for easily plugging in your own database for saving and retrieving installation data.
## Installation
```shell
$ npm install @slack/oauth
```
## Usage
These examples show how to get started using the most common features. You'll find more extensive [documentation on the package's website](https://slack.dev/node-slack-sdk/oauth).
Before building an app, you'll need to [create a Slack app](https://api.slack.com/apps/new) and install it to your development workspace. You'll also need to copy the **Client ID** and **Client Secret** given to you by Slack under the **Basic Information** of your app configuration.
It may be helpful to read the tutorials on [getting started](https://slack.dev/node-slack-sdk/getting-started) and [getting a public URL that can be used for development](https://slack.dev/node-slack-sdk/tutorials/local-development).
---
### Initialize the installer
This package exposes an `InstallProvider` class, which sets up the required configuration and exposes methods such as `generateInstallUrl`, `handleCallback`, `authorize` for use within your apps. At a minimum, `InstallProvider` takes a `clientId` and `clientSecret` (both which can be obtained under the **Basic Information** of your app configuration). `InstallProvider` also requires a `stateSecret`, which is used to encode the generated state, and later used to decode that same state to verify it wasn't tampered with during the OAuth flow. **Note**: This example is not ready for production because it only stores installations (tokens) in memory. Please go to the [storing installations in a database](#storing-installations-in-a-database) section to learn how to plug in your own database.
```javascript
const { InstallProvider } = require('@slack/oauth');
// initialize the installProvider
const installer = new InstallProvider({
clientId: process.env.SLACK_CLIENT_ID,
clientSecret: process.env.SLACK_CLIENT_SECRET,
stateSecret: 'my-state-secret'
});
```
Using a classic Slack app
```javascript
const { InstallProvider } = require('@slack/oauth');
// initialize the installProvider
const installer = new InstallProvider({
clientId: process.env.SLACK_CLIENT_ID,
clientSecret: process.env.SLACK_CLIENT_SECRET,
stateSecret: 'my-state-secret',
authVersion: 'v1' //required for classic Slack apps
});
```
---
### Generating an installation URL
You'll need an installation URL when you want to test your own installation, in order to submit your app to the App Directory, and if you need an additional authorizations (user tokens) from users inside a team when your app is already installed. These URLs are also commonly used on your own webpages as the link for an ["Add to Slack" button](https://api.slack.com/docs/slack-button). You may also need to generate an installation URL dynamically when an option's value is only known at runtime, and in this case you would redirect the user to the installation URL.
The `installProvider.generateInstallUrl()` method will create an installation URL for you. It takes in an options argument which at a minimum contains a `scopes` property. `installProvider.generateInstallUrl()` options argument also supports `metadata`, `teamId`, `redirectUri` and `userScopes` properties.
```javascript
installer.generateInstallUrl({
// Add the scopes your app needs
scopes: ['channels:read']
})
```
Adding custom metadata to the installation URL
You might want to present an "Add to Slack" button while the user is in the middle of some other tasks (e.g. linking their Slack account to your service). In these situations, you want to bring the user back to where they left off after the app installation is complete. Custom metadata can be used to capture partial (incomplete) information about the task (like which page they were on or inputs to form elements the user began to fill out) in progress. Then when the installation is complete, that custom metadata will be available for your app to recreate exactly where they left off. You must also use a [custom success handler when handling the OAuth redirect](#handling-the-oauth-redirect) to read the custom metadata after the installation is complete.
```javascript
installer.generateInstallUrl({
// Add the scopes your app needs
scopes: ['channels:read'],
metadata: JSON.stringify({some:'sessionState'})
})
```
**Note**: custom metadata is visible to the user, so don't store any secret information in the metadata. The installation provider will ensure that none of the metadata has been tampered with when the user returns. To change how metadata is handled, including hiding it from users, read about [using a custom state store](#using-a-custom-state-store).
---
### Handling the OAuth redirect
After the user approves the request to install your app (and grants access to the required permissions), Slack will redirect the user to your specified **redirect url**. You can either set the redirect url in the app’s **OAuth and Permissions** page or pass a `redirectUri` when calling `installProvider.generateInstallUrl`. Your HTTP server should handle requests to the redirect URL by calling the `installProvider.handleCallback()` method. The first two arguments (`req`, `res`) to `installProvider.handleCallback` are required. By default, if the installation is successful the user will be redirected back to your App Home in Slack (or redirected back to the last open workspace in your slack app for classic Slack apps). If the installation is not successful the user will be shown an error page.
```javascript
const { createServer } = require('http');
const server = createServer((req, res) => {
// our redirect_uri is /slack/oauth_redirect
if (req.url === '/slack/oauth_redirect') {
// call installer.handleCallback to wrap up the install flow
installer.handleCallback(req, res);
}
})
server.listen(3000);
```
Using an Express app
You can easily use `installer.handleCallback` within an Express app by setting up a route for the OAuth redirect.
```javascript
app.get('/slack/oauth_redirect', (req, res) => {
installer.handleCallback(req, res);
});
```
Using a custom success handler and custom failure handler
If you decide you need custom success or failure behaviors (ex: wanting to show a page on your site with instructions on how to use the app), you can pass in your own success/failure functions.
```javascript
const callbackOptions = {
success: (installation, installOptions, req, res) => {
// Do custom success logic here
// Tips:
// - Inspect the metadata with `installOptions.metadata`
// - Add javascript and css in the htmlResponse using the