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clerk-core-workflow-a

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$97 forever

Implement user sign-up and sign-in flows with Clerk. Use when building authentication UI, customizing sign-in experience, or implementing OAuth social login. Trigger with phrases like "clerk sign-in", "clerk sign-up", "clerk login flow", "clerk OAuth", "clerk social login".

Designsaasclerkauthentication

What this skill does

# Clerk Core Workflow A: Sign-Up & Sign-In

## Overview

Implement authentication flows with Clerk: pre-built components for rapid setup, custom forms for full UI control, OAuth social login, email/phone verification, and multi-factor authentication.

## Prerequisites

- Clerk SDK installed and configured (`clerk-install-auth` completed)
- OAuth providers enabled in Dashboard > User & Authentication > Social Connections
- Sign-in/sign-up environment variables set

## Instructions

### Step 1: Pre-Built Components (Quick Start)

```typescript
// app/sign-in/[[...sign-in]]/page.tsx
import { SignIn } from '@clerk/nextjs'

export default function SignInPage() {
  return (
    <div className="flex min-h-screen items-center justify-center">
      <SignIn
        appearance={{
          elements: {
            rootBox: 'mx-auto',
            card: 'shadow-xl rounded-2xl',
            headerTitle: 'text-2xl',
            socialButtonsBlockButton: 'rounded-lg',
          },
        }}
        routing="path"
        path="/sign-in"
        signUpUrl="/sign-up"
      />
    </div>
  )
}
```

```typescript
// app/sign-up/[[...sign-up]]/page.tsx
import { SignUp } from '@clerk/nextjs'

export default function SignUpPage() {
  return (
    <div className="flex min-h-screen items-center justify-center">
      <SignUp routing="path" path="/sign-up" signInUrl="/sign-in" />
    </div>
  )
}
```

```bash
# .env.local — routing configuration
NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_SIGN_IN_URL=/sign-in
NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_SIGN_UP_URL=/sign-up
NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_AFTER_SIGN_IN_URL=/dashboard
NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_AFTER_SIGN_UP_URL=/onboarding
```

### Step 2: Custom Sign-In Form (Full UI Control)

```typescript
'use client'
import { useSignIn } from '@clerk/nextjs'
import { useRouter } from 'next/navigation'
import { useState } from 'react'

export function CustomSignIn() {
  const { signIn, setActive, isLoaded } = useSignIn()
  const router = useRouter()
  const [email, setEmail] = useState('')
  const [password, setPassword] = useState('')
  const [error, setError] = useState('')
  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false)

  if (!isLoaded) return null

  const handleSubmit = async (e: React.FormEvent) => {
    e.preventDefault()
    setError('')
    setLoading(true)

    try {
      const result = await signIn.create({
        identifier: email,
        password,
      })

      if (result.status === 'complete') {
        // Session created — activate it and redirect
        await setActive({ session: result.createdSessionId })
        router.push('/dashboard')
      } else if (result.status === 'needs_second_factor') {
        // MFA required — handled in Step 5
        router.push('/sign-in/mfa')
      } else if (result.status === 'needs_identifier') {
        setError('Please enter your email address')
      }
    } catch (err: any) {
      const clerkError = err.errors?.[0]
      switch (clerkError?.code) {
        case 'form_identifier_not_found':
          setError('No account found with this email')
          break
        case 'form_password_incorrect':
          setError('Incorrect password')
          break
        case 'session_exists':
          router.push('/dashboard')
          break
        default:
          setError(clerkError?.message || 'Sign-in failed')
      }
    } finally {
      setLoading(false)
    }
  }

  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit} className="space-y-4 max-w-sm mx-auto">
      <input
        type="email" value={email}
        onChange={e => setEmail(e.target.value)}
        placeholder="Email address" required
        className="w-full p-2 border rounded"
      />
      <input
        type="password" value={password}
        onChange={e => setPassword(e.target.value)}
        placeholder="Password" required
        className="w-full p-2 border rounded"
      />
      {error && <p className="text-red-500 text-sm">{error}</p>}
      <button type="submit" disabled={loading} className="w-full p-2 bg-blue-600 text-white rounded">
        {loading ? 'Signing in...' : 'Sign In'}
      </button>
    </form>
  )
}
```

### Step 3: OAuth Social Login

```typescript
'use client'
import { useSignIn } from '@clerk/nextjs'

export function OAuthButtons() {
  const { signIn, isLoaded } = useSignIn()

  if (!isLoaded) return null

  const signInWith = (strategy: 'oauth_google' | 'oauth_github' | 'oauth_apple') => {
    signIn.authenticateWithRedirect({
      strategy,
      redirectUrl: '/sso-callback',
      redirectUrlComplete: '/dashboard',
    })
  }

  return (
    <div className="flex flex-col gap-3">
      <button onClick={() => signInWith('oauth_google')} className="p-2 border rounded">
        Continue with Google
      </button>
      <button onClick={() => signInWith('oauth_github')} className="p-2 border rounded">
        Continue with GitHub
      </button>
      <button onClick={() => signInWith('oauth_apple')} className="p-2 border rounded">
        Continue with Apple
      </button>
    </div>
  )
}
```

```typescript
// app/sso-callback/page.tsx — handles OAuth redirect
import { AuthenticateWithRedirectCallback } from '@clerk/nextjs'

export default function SSOCallback() {
  return <AuthenticateWithRedirectCallback />
}
```

### Step 4: Custom Sign-Up with Email Verification

```typescript
'use client'
import { useSignUp } from '@clerk/nextjs'
import { useRouter } from 'next/navigation'
import { useState } from 'react'

export function CustomSignUp() {
  const { signUp, setActive, isLoaded } = useSignUp()
  const router = useRouter()
  const [step, setStep] = useState<'form' | 'verify'>('form')
  const [email, setEmail] = useState('')
  const [password, setPassword] = useState('')
  const [code, setCode] = useState('')
  const [error, setError] = useState('')

  if (!isLoaded) return null

  const handleSignUp = async (e: React.FormEvent) => {
    e.preventDefault()
    try {
      await signUp.create({ emailAddress: email, password })
      // Send verification email
      await signUp.prepareEmailAddressVerification({ strategy: 'email_code' })
      setStep('verify')
    } catch (err: any) {
      setError(err.errors?.[0]?.longMessage || 'Sign-up failed')
    }
  }

  const handleVerify = async (e: React.FormEvent) => {
    e.preventDefault()
    try {
      const result = await signUp.attemptEmailAddressVerification({ code })
      if (result.status === 'complete') {
        await setActive({ session: result.createdSessionId })
        router.push('/onboarding')
      }
    } catch (err: any) {
      setError(err.errors?.[0]?.longMessage || 'Verification failed')
    }
  }

  if (step === 'verify') {
    return (
      <form onSubmit={handleVerify} className="space-y-4">
        <p>Check your email for a verification code</p>
        <input
          value={code} onChange={e => setCode(e.target.value)}
          placeholder="Enter 6-digit code" required
        />
        {error && <p className="text-red-500">{error}</p>}
        <button type="submit">Verify Email</button>
      </form>
    )
  }

  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSignUp} className="space-y-4">
      <input type="email" value={email} onChange={e => setEmail(e.target.value)} placeholder="Email" required />
      <input type="password" value={password} onChange={e => setPassword(e.target.value)} placeholder="Password" required />
      {error && <p className="text-red-500">{error}</p>}
      <button type="submit">Create Account</button>
    </form>
  )
}
```

### Step 5: Multi-Factor Authentication (TOTP)

```typescript
'use client'
import { useSignIn } from '@clerk/nextjs'
import { useRouter } from 'next/navigation'
import { useState } from 'react'

export function MFAVerification() {
  const { signIn, setActive } = useSignIn()
  const router = useRouter()
  const [code, setCode] = useState('')
  const [error, setError] = useState('')

  const handleMFA = async (e: React.FormEvent) => {
    e.preventDefault()
    try {
      const result = await signIn!.attemptSecondFactor({

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