Build a User Management App with Ionic Angular

This tutorial demonstrates how to build a basic user management app. The app authenticates and identifies the user, stores their profile information in the database, and allows the user to log in, update their profile details, and upload a profile photo. The app uses:

Supabase Database - a Postgres database for storing your user data and Row Level Security so data is protected and users can only access their own information.
Supabase Auth - allow users to sign up and log in.
Supabase Storage - allow users to upload a profile photo.

Supabase User Management example

Note

If you get stuck while working through this guide, refer to the full example on GitHub.

Project setup

Before you start building you need to set up the Database and API. You can do this by starting a new Project in Supabase and then creating a "schema" inside the database.

Create a project

Create a new project in the Supabase Dashboard.
Enter your project details.
Wait for the new database to launch.

Set up the database schema

Now set up the database schema. You can use the "User Management Starter" quickstart in the SQL Editor, or you can copy/paste the SQL from below and run it.

Dashboard

SQL

Go to the SQL Editor page in the Dashboard.
Click User Management Starter under the Reference > Examples tab.
Click Run.

Note

You can pull the database schema down to your local project by running the db pull command. Read the local development docs for detailed instructions.

supabase link --project-ref <project-id>
# You can get <project-id> from your project's dashboard URL: https://supabase.com/dashboard/project/<project-id>
supabase db pull

Note

When working locally you can run the following command to create a new migration file:

supabase migration new user_management_starter

-- Create a table for public profiles
create table profiles (
  id uuid references auth.users not null primary key,
  updated_at timestamp with time zone,
  username text unique,
  full_name text,
  avatar_url text,
  website text,

  constraint username_length check (char_length(username) >= 3)
);

-- Grant the privileges roles need
GRANT SELECT ON public.profiles TO anon;
GRANT SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE ON public.profiles TO authenticated;

-- Set up Row Level Security (RLS)
-- See https://supabase.com/docs/guides/database/postgres/row-level-security for more details.
alter table profiles
  enable row level security;

create policy "Public profiles are viewable by everyone." on profiles
  for select using (true);

create policy "Users can insert their own profile." on profiles
  for insert with check ((select auth.uid()) = id);

create policy "Users can update own profile." on profiles
  for update using ((select auth.uid()) = id);

-- This trigger automatically creates a profile entry when a new user signs up via Supabase Auth.
-- See https://supabase.com/docs/guides/auth/managing-user-data#using-triggers for more details.
create function public.handle_new_user()
returns trigger
set search_path = ''
as $$
begin
  insert into public.profiles (id, full_name, avatar_url)
  values (new.id, new.raw_user_meta_data->>'full_name', new.raw_user_meta_data->>'avatar_url');
  return new;
end;
$$ language plpgsql security definer;
create trigger on_auth_user_created
  after insert on auth.users
  for each row execute procedure public.handle_new_user();

-- Set up Storage!
insert into storage.buckets (id, name)
  values ('avatars', 'avatars');

-- Set up access controls for storage. Allows downloading object with public key
-- See https://supabase.com/docs/guides/storage/security/access-control#policy-examples for more details.
create policy "Avatar images are publicly accessible." on storage.objects
  for select using (bucket_id = 'avatars' and storage.allow_any_operation(array['object.get_authenticated_info', 'object.get_authenticated']));

create policy "Anyone can upload an avatar." on storage.objects
  for insert with check (bucket_id = 'avatars');

create policy "Anyone can update their own avatar." on storage.objects
  for update using ((select auth.uid()) = owner) with check (bucket_id = 'avatars');

Get API details

To interact with data in database tables, you use the client libraries that wrap the auto-generated Data API endpoints, authenticating using the Project URL and key from the project Connect dialog.

Project URL: https://<project-ref>.supabase.co (find yours in the dashboard)

Publishable key: sb_publishable_... (find yours in the dashboard)

Note

See API keys for a full explanation of all key types, their uses, and where to find them.

Building the app

Start building the Angular app from scratch.

Initialize an Ionic Angular app

Use the Ionic CLI to initialize an app called supabase-ionic-angular:

npm install -g @ionic/cli
ionic start supabase-ionic-angular blank --type angular
cd supabase-ionic-angular

Install the only additional dependency: supabase-js

npm install @supabase/supabase-js

And finally, save the environment variables in the src/environments/environment.ts file. All you need are the API URL and the key that you copied earlier. These variables will be exposed on the browser, and that's fine as Row Level Security is enabled on the Database.

// This file can be replaced during build by using the `fileReplacements` array.
// `ng build --prod` replaces `environment.ts` with `environment.prod.ts`.
// The list of file replacements can be found in `angular.json`.

export const environment = {
  production: false,
  supabaseUrl: '',
  supabasePublishableKey: '',
}

/*
 * For easier debugging in development mode, you can import the following file
 * to ignore zone related error stack frames such as `zone.run`, `zoneDelegate.invokeTask`.
 *
 * This import should be commented out in production mode because it will have a negative impact
 * on performance if an error is thrown.
 */
// import 'zone.js/dist/zone-error';  // Included with Angular CLI.

Now that you have the API credentials in place, create a SupabaseService with ionic g s supabase to initialize the Supabase client and implement functions to communicate with the Supabase API.

import { Injectable } from '@angular/core'
import { LoadingController, ToastController } from '@ionic/angular'
import { AuthChangeEvent, createClient, Session, SupabaseClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js'
import { environment } from '../environments/environment'

export interface Profile {
  username: string
  website: string
  avatar_url: string
}

@Injectable({
  providedIn: 'root',
})
export class SupabaseService {
  private supabase: SupabaseClient

  constructor(
    private loadingCtrl: LoadingController,
    private toastCtrl: ToastController
  ) {
    this.supabase = createClient(environment.supabaseUrl, environment.supabasePublishableKey)
  }

  get user() {
    return this.supabase.auth.getUser().then(({ data }) => data?.user)
  }

  get session() {
    return this.supabase.auth.getClaims().then(async ({ data }) => {
      if (!data?.claims) {
        return null
      }

      const { data: userData } = await this.supabase.auth.getUser()
      return userData?.user ? ({ user: userData.user } as Session) : null
    })
  }

  get profile() {
    return this.user
      .then((user) => user?.id)
      .then((id) =>
        this.supabase.from('profiles').select(`username, website, avatar_url`).eq('id', id).single()
      )
  }

  authChanges(callback: (event: AuthChangeEvent, session: Session | null) => void) {
    return this.supabase.auth.onAuthStateChange(callback)
  }

  signIn(email: string) {
    return this.supabase.auth.signInWithOtp({ email })
  }

  signOut() {
    return this.supabase.auth.signOut()
  }

  async updateProfile(profile: Profile) {
    const user = await this.user
    const update = {
      ...profile,
      id: user?.id,
      updated_at: new Date(),
    }

    return this.supabase.from('profiles').upsert(update)
  }

  downLoadImage(path: string) {
    return this.supabase.storage.from('avatars').download(path)
  }

  uploadAvatar(filePath: string, file: File) {
    return this.supabase.storage.from('avatars').upload(filePath, file)
  }

  async createNotice(message: string) {
    const toast = await this.toastCtrl.create({ message, duration: 5000 })
    await toast.present()
  }

  createLoader() {
    return this.loadingCtrl.create()
  }
}

Set up a route to manage sign-ins and sign-ups. Use Magic Links so users can sign in with their email without using passwords. Create a LoginPage with the ionic g page login Ionic CLI command.

import { Component, OnInit } from '@angular/core'
import { SupabaseService } from '../supabase.service'

@Component({
  selector: 'app-login',
  standalone: false,
  templateUrl: './login.page.html',
  styleUrls: ['./login.page.scss'],
})
export class LoginPage {
  email = ''

  constructor(private readonly supabase: SupabaseService) {}

  async handleLogin(event: any) {
    event.preventDefault()
    const loader = await this.supabase.createLoader()
    await loader.present()
    try {
      const { error } = await this.supabase.signIn(this.email)
      if (error) {
        throw error
      }
      await loader.dismiss()
      await this.supabase.createNotice('Check your email for the login link!')
    } catch (error: any) {
      await loader.dismiss()
      await this.supabase.createNotice(error.error_description || error.message)
    }
  }
}

<ion-header>
  <ion-toolbar>
    <ion-title>Login</ion-title>
  </ion-toolbar>
</ion-header>

<ion-content>
  <div class="ion-padding">
    <h1>Supabase + Ionic Angular</h1>
    <p>Sign in via magic link with your email below</p>
  </div>
    <ion-list inset="true">
      <form (ngSubmit)="handleLogin($event)">
        <ion-item>
          <ion-label position="stacked">Email</ion-label>
          <ion-input
            [(ngModel)]="email"
            name="email"
            autocomplete
            type="email"
          ></ion-input>
        </ion-item>
        <div class="ion-text-center">
          <ion-button type="submit" fill="clear">Login</ion-button>
        </div>
      </form>
    </ion-list>
</ion-content>

Account page

After a user is signed in, allow them to edit their profile details and manage their account. Create an AccountComponent with ionic g page account Ionic CLI command.

import { Component, OnInit } from '@angular/core'
import { Router } from '@angular/router'
import { Profile, SupabaseService } from '../supabase.service'

@Component({
  selector: 'app-account',
  standalone: false,
  templateUrl: './account.page.html',
  styleUrls: ['./account.page.scss'],
})
export class AccountPage implements OnInit {
  profile: Profile = {
    username: '',
    avatar_url: '',
    website: '',
  }

  email = ''

  constructor(
    private readonly supabase: SupabaseService,
    private router: Router
  ) {}

  ngOnInit() {
    this.getEmail()
    this.getProfile()
  }

  async getEmail() {
    this.email = await this.supabase.user.then((user) => user?.email || '')
  }

  async getProfile() {
    try {
      const { data: profile, error, status } = await this.supabase.profile
      if (error && status !== 406) {
        throw error
      }
      if (profile) {
        this.profile = profile
      }
    } catch (error: any) {
      alert(error.message)
    }
  }

  async updateProfile(avatar_url: string = '') {
    const loader = await this.supabase.createLoader()
    await loader.present()
    try {
      const { error } = await this.supabase.updateProfile({ ...this.profile, avatar_url })
      if (error) {
        throw error
      }
      await loader.dismiss()
      await this.supabase.createNotice('Profile updated!')
    } catch (error: any) {
      await loader.dismiss()
      await this.supabase.createNotice(error.message)
    }
  }

  async signOut() {
    console.log('testing?')
    await this.supabase.signOut()
    this.router.navigate(['/'], { replaceUrl: true })
  }
}

<ion-header>
  <ion-toolbar>
    <ion-title>Account</ion-title>
  </ion-toolbar>
</ion-header>

<ion-content>

  // ...

  <form>
    <ion-item>
      <ion-label position="stacked">Email</ion-label>
      <ion-input type="email" name="email" [(ngModel)]="email" readonly></ion-input>
    </ion-item>

    <ion-item>
      <ion-label position="stacked">Name</ion-label>
      <ion-input
        type="text"
        name="username"
        [(ngModel)]="profile.username"
      ></ion-input>
    </ion-item>

    <ion-item>
      <ion-label position="stacked">Website</ion-label>
      <ion-input
        type="url"
        name="website"
        [(ngModel)]="profile.website"
      ></ion-input>
    </ion-item>
    <div class="ion-text-center">
      <ion-button fill="clear" (click)="updateProfile()"
        >Update Profile</ion-button
      >
    </div>
  </form>

  <div class="ion-text-center">
    <ion-button fill="clear" (click)="signOut()">Log Out</ion-button>
  </div>
</ion-content>

Launch!

Now that you have all the components in place, update AppComponent:

import { Component } from '@angular/core'
import { Router } from '@angular/router'
import { SupabaseService } from './supabase.service'

@Component({
  selector: 'app-root',
  standalone: false,
  templateUrl: 'app.component.html',
  styleUrls: ['app.component.scss'],
})
export class AppComponent {
  constructor(
    private supabase: SupabaseService,
    private router: Router
  ) {
    this.supabase.authChanges((_, session) => {
      console.log(session)
      if (session?.user) {
        this.router.navigate(['/account'])
      }
    })
  }
}

Then update the AppRoutingModule

import { NgModule } from '@angular/core'
import { PreloadAllModules, RouterModule, Routes } from '@angular/router'

const routes: Routes = [
  {
    path: '',
    loadChildren: () => import('./login/login.module').then((m) => m.LoginPageModule),
  },
  {
    path: 'account',
    loadChildren: () => import('./account/account.module').then((m) => m.AccountPageModule),
  },
]

@NgModule({
  imports: [RouterModule.forRoot(routes, { preloadingStrategy: PreloadAllModules })],
  exports: [RouterModule],
})
export class AppRoutingModule {}

Once that's done, run this in a terminal window:

ionic serve

And the browser automatically opens to show the app.

Supabase Angular

Bonus: Profile photos

Every Supabase project is configured with Storage for managing large files like photos and videos.

Create an avatar so the user can upload a profile photo.

First, install two packages in order to interact with the user's camera.

npm install @ionic/pwa-elements @capacitor/camera

Capacitor is a cross-platform native runtime from Ionic that enables web apps to be deployed through the app store and provides access to native device API.

Ionic PWA elements is a companion package that polyfills certain browser APIs that provide no user interface with custom Ionic UI.

With those packages installed, update main.ts to include an additional bootstrapping call for the Ionic PWA Elements.

import { enableProdMode } from '@angular/core'
import { platformBrowserDynamic } from '@angular/platform-browser-dynamic'

import { AppModule } from './app/app.module'
import { environment } from './environments/environment'

import { defineCustomElements } from '@ionic/pwa-elements/loader'
defineCustomElements(window)

if (environment.production) {
  enableProdMode()
}
platformBrowserDynamic()
  .bootstrapModule(AppModule)
  .catch((err) => console.log(err))

Then create an AvatarComponent with this Ionic CLI command:

ionic g component avatar --module=/src/app/account/account.module.ts --create-module

import { Component, EventEmitter, Input, OnInit, Output } from '@angular/core'
import { DomSanitizer, SafeResourceUrl } from '@angular/platform-browser'
import { SupabaseService } from '../supabase.service'
import { Camera, CameraResultType } from '@capacitor/camera'
import { addIcons } from 'ionicons'
import { person } from 'ionicons/icons'

@Component({
  selector: 'app-avatar',
  standalone: false,
  templateUrl: './avatar.component.html',
  styleUrls: ['./avatar.component.scss'],
})
export class AvatarComponent {
  _avatarUrl: SafeResourceUrl | undefined
  uploading = false

  @Input()
  set avatarUrl(url: string | undefined) {
    if (url) {
      this.downloadImage(url)
    }
  }

  @Output() upload = new EventEmitter<string>()

  constructor(
    private readonly supabase: SupabaseService,
    private readonly dom: DomSanitizer
  ) {
    addIcons({ person })
  }

  async downloadImage(path: string) {
    try {
      const { data, error } = await this.supabase.downLoadImage(path)
      if (error) {
        throw error
      }
      this._avatarUrl = this.dom.bypassSecurityTrustResourceUrl(URL.createObjectURL(data!))
    } catch (error: any) {
      console.error('Error downloading image: ', error.message)
    }
  }

  async uploadAvatar() {
    const loader = await this.supabase.createLoader()
    try {
      const photo = await Camera.getPhoto({
        resultType: CameraResultType.DataUrl,
      })

      const file = await fetch(photo.dataUrl!)
        .then((res) => res.blob())
        .then((blob) => new File([blob], 'my-file', { type: `image/${photo.format}` }))

      const fileName = `${Math.random()}-${new Date().getTime()}.${photo.format}`

      await loader.present()
      const { error } = await this.supabase.uploadAvatar(fileName, file)

      if (error) {
        throw error
      }

      this.upload.emit(fileName)
    } catch (error: any) {
      this.supabase.createNotice(error.message)
    } finally {
      loader.dismiss()
    }
  }
}

<div class="avatar_wrapper" (click)="uploadAvatar()">

  <img *ngIf="_avatarUrl; else noAvatar" [src]="_avatarUrl" />
  <ng-template #noAvatar>
    <ion-icon name="person" class="no-avatar"></ion-icon>
  </ng-template>

</div>

:host {
  display: block;
  margin: auto;
  min-height: 150px;

  .avatar_wrapper {
    margin: 16px auto 16px;
    border-radius: 50%;
    overflow: hidden;
    height: 150px;
    aspect-ratio: 1/1;
    background: var(--ion-color-step-50);
    border: thick solid var(--ion-color-step-200);
    &:hover {
      cursor: pointer;
    }

    ion-icon.no-avatar {
      width: 100%;
      height: 115%;
    }
  }

  img {
    display: block;
    object-fit: cover;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%;
  }
}

Update the account page

With the Avatar component created, update the account page template to include it:

<ion-header>
  <ion-toolbar>
    <ion-title>Account</ion-title>
  </ion-toolbar>
</ion-header>

<ion-content>
  <app-avatar
    [avatarUrl]="this.profile?.avatar_url"
    (upload)="updateProfile($event)"
  >
  </app-avatar>
  <form>
    <ion-item>
      <ion-label position="stacked">Email</ion-label>
      <ion-input type="email" name="email" [(ngModel)]="email" readonly></ion-input>
    </ion-item>

    <ion-item>
      <ion-label position="stacked">Name</ion-label>
      <ion-input
        type="text"
        name="username"
        [(ngModel)]="profile.username"
      ></ion-input>
    </ion-item>

    <ion-item>
      <ion-label position="stacked">Website</ion-label>
      <ion-input
        type="url"
        name="website"
        [(ngModel)]="profile.website"
      ></ion-input>
    </ion-item>
    <div class="ion-text-center">
      <ion-button fill="clear" (click)="updateProfile()"
        >Update Profile</ion-button
      >
    </div>
  </form>

  <div class="ion-text-center">
    <ion-button fill="clear" (click)="signOut()">Log Out</ion-button>
  </div>
</ion-content>

At this stage, you have a fully functional application!

Project setup

Create a project

Set up the database schema

Get API details

Building the app

Initialize an Ionic Angular app

Account page

Launch!

Bonus: Profile photos

Create an upload widget

Update the account page

See also

Build a User Management App with Ionic Angular

Project setup

Create a project

Set up the database schema

Get API details

Building the app

Initialize an Ionic Angular app

Set up a sign-in route

Account page

Launch!

Bonus: Profile photos

Create an upload widget

Update the account page

See also