Configure Better Auth server and client, set up database adapters, manage sessions, add plugins, and handle environment variables. Use when users mention Better Auth, betterauth, auth.ts, or need to set up TypeScript authentication with email/password, OAuth, or plugin configuration.
Configure Better Auth server and client, set up database adapters, manage sessions, add plugins, and handle environment variables. Use when users mention Better Auth, betterauth, auth.ts, or need to set up TypeScript authentication with email/password, OAuth, or plugin configuration.
npx @better-auth/cli@latest generate - Generate schema for Prisma/Drizzle
npx @better-auth/cli mcp --cursor - Add MCP to AI tools
Re-run after adding/changing plugins.
Core Config Options
Option
Notes
appName
Optional display name
baseURL
Only if BETTER_AUTH_URL not set
basePath
Default /api/auth. Set / for root.
secret
Only if BETTER_AUTH_SECRET not set
database
Required for most features. See adapters docs.
secondaryStorage
Redis/KV for sessions & rate limits
emailAndPassword
{ enabled: true } to activate
socialProviders
{ google: { clientId, clientSecret }, ... }
plugins
Array of plugins
trustedOrigins
CSRF whitelist
Database
Direct connections: Pass pg.Pool, mysql2 pool, better-sqlite3, or bun:sqlite instance.
ORM adapters: Import from better-auth/adapters/drizzle, better-auth/adapters/prisma, better-auth/adapters/mongodb.
Critical: Better Auth uses adapter model names, NOT underlying table names. If Prisma model is User mapping to table users, use modelName: "user" (Prisma reference), not "users".
Session Management
Storage priority:
If secondaryStorage defined → sessions go there (not DB)
Set session.storeSessionInDatabase: true to also persist to DB
No database + cookieCache → fully stateless mode
Cookie cache strategies:
compact (default) - Base64url + HMAC. Smallest.
jwt - Standard JWT. Readable but signed.
jwe - Encrypted. Maximum security.
Key options:session.expiresIn (default 7 days), session.updateAge (refresh interval), session.cookieCache.maxAge, session.cookieCache.version (change to invalidate all sessions).
User & Account Config
User:user.modelName, user.fields (column mapping), user.additionalFields, user.changeEmail.enabled (disabled by default), user.deleteUser.enabled (disabled by default).
