How to modify frontend applications to support passkeys?

How Should Frontend Applications Be Modified to Support Passkeys?#

Supporting passkeys in a frontend application requires both UI updates and WebAuthn API integration to enable seamless user experiences. Here’s what to consider:

1. Implement Passkey Options in the UI#

• Add clear buttons for passkey actions, such as:
  • "Continue with Passkey" for login.
  • "Create a Passkey" during onboarding.
  • "Manage Passkeys" in account settings.
• Use intuitive icons and text to explain the benefits of passkeys to users.

2. Integrate the WebAuthn API#

• Use the Web Authentication API to handle passkey creation and authentication flows.
  • For passkey creation: Call navigator.credentials.create().
  • For passkey authentication: Use navigator.credentials.get().
• Ensure the API calls are compatible across major browsers and devices.

3. Handle Cross-Device Compatibility#

• Design flows to handle device-specific prompts for passkey creation and authentication.
• Provide fallback options for devices or browsers that do not support passkeys.

4. Provide Error Feedback#

• Implement robust error-handling logic to display helpful messages if a passkey creation or login attempt fails.
• Use generic error messages to avoid exposing account enumeration risks.

5. Ensure Accessibility#

• Follow accessibility best practices for UI elements related to passkeys.
• Ensure passkey buttons and prompts are usable with screen readers and other assistive technologies.

6. Test the Frontend Thoroughly#

• Test the passkey flows across various browsers and devices to ensure consistency.
• Use virtual authenticators during development for thorough testing of edge cases.

These updates ensure a smooth, secure, and user-friendly implementation of passkeys in your frontend application, driving higher adoption and satisfaction.

Read the full article#

About Corbado

Corbado is the Authentication Intelligence Platform for CIAM teams running consumer authentication at scale. We help you see what IDP logs and generic analytics tools can't: where passkeys, passwords, OTP, social login and fallback journeys succeed, stall or fail, which devices and browsers create friction, and when an OS update silently breaks login. Two products: Corbado Observe layers process mining and observability across authentication journeys. Corbado Connect adds managed passkeys with analytics built in alongside your IDP. VicRoads runs passkeys for 5M+ users with Corbado (+80% passkey activation). Talk to a Passkey Expert →