Introduction to FastAPI and User Authentication Basics

Learn the basics of FastAPI and the principles of user authentication to secure your static sites.

By Kevin McAleer,    2 Minutes

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What is FastAPI?

FastAPI is a modern, fast (high-performance) web framework for building APIs with Python 3.7+ based on standard Python type hints. It’s designed to create APIs that are intuitive to write and easy to read and test.

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Understanding User Authentication

User authentication is a process that verifies the identity of a user attempting to access a system. It’s crucial for securing sensitive information and ensuring that only authorized users can perform certain actions.

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Why Use FastAPI for Authentication?

• Speed and Performance: FastAPI is one of the fastest web frameworks for Python, ideal for handling authentication requests efficiently.
• Ease of Use: With straightforward syntax and built-in support for data validation and serialization, FastAPI simplifies the development of secure APIs.
• Asynchronous Support: FastAPI supports asynchronous request handling, making it suitable for high-concurrency environments.

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Real-World Application

By integrating FastAPI with a statically generated site like Jekyll, you can add dynamic features such as user authentication, combining the security and speed of static sites with the flexibility of dynamic content.

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Getting Ready

Next, we’ll dive into setting up our development environment and starting our project with FastAPI, laying the groundwork for adding authentication features to your Jekyll site.

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Additional Resources

• FastAPI Official Documentation
• Python Asyncio for Beginners

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Lesson Assignment

Reflect on the potential benefits of adding user authentication to a static site. Consider how combining FastAPI with Jekyll could enhance site functionality and user experience.

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