The answer
Write an auth middleware that verifies the JWT and sets req.user. Apply it to single routes, to a router (router.use(auth)), or in app.js. Keep public routes outside the auth middleware.
Express Route Protection With Middlewares
How do I protect routes in Express?
More FAQs in Express Route Protection With Middlewares
Read from req.cookies.token or req.headers.authorization (Bearer token). Verify with jwt.verify(token, process.env.JWT_SECRET). If valid, set req.user and call next; if not, return 401.
Add a second middleware after auth that checks req.user.role. If not allowed, return 403. Apply with router.use('/admin', auth, requireAdmin). Stack middlewares for layered auth.
In the handler, load the resource and compare its owner to req.user.id. If they do not match, return 403. Do this for any user-specific resource like /posts/:id.
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