@arcjet/node

@arcjet/node

Arcjet helps developers protect their apps in just a few lines of code. Implement rate limiting, bot protection, email verification, and defense against common attacks.

This is the Arcjet SDK for Node.js.

Looking for our Next.js framework SDK? Check out the @arcjet/next package.

Getting started

Visit the quick start guide to get started.

Example app

Try an Arcjet protected app live at https://example.arcjet.com (source code).

Installation

npm install -S @arcjet/node

Rate limit example

The example below applies a token bucket rate limit rule to a route where we identify the user based on their ID e.g. if they are logged in. The bucket is configured with a maximum capacity of 10 tokens and refills by 5 tokens every 10 seconds. Each request consumes 5 tokens.

Bot detection is also enabled to block requests from known bots.

import arcjet, { tokenBucket, detectBot } from "@arcjet/node";
import http from "node:http";

const aj = arcjet({
  key: process.env.ARCJET_KEY!, // Get your site key from https://app.arcjet.com
  characteristics: ["userId"], // track requests by a custom user ID
  rules: [
    // Create a token bucket rate limit. Other algorithms are supported.
    tokenBucket({
      mode: "LIVE", // will block requests. Use "DRY_RUN" to log only
      refillRate: 5, // refill 5 tokens per interval
      interval: 10, // refill every 10 seconds
      capacity: 10, // bucket maximum capacity of 10 tokens
    }),
    detectBot({
      mode: "LIVE", // will block requests. Use "DRY_RUN" to log only
      // configured with a list of bots to allow from
      // https://arcjet.com/bot-list
      allow: [], // "allow none" will block all detected bots
    }),
  ],
});

const server = http.createServer(async function (
  req: http.IncomingMessage,
  res: http.ServerResponse,
) {
  const userId = "user123"; // Replace with your authenticated user ID
  const decision = await aj.protect(req, { userId, requested: 5 }); // Deduct 5 tokens from the bucket
  console.log("Arcjet decision", decision);

  if (decision.isDenied()) {
    res.writeHead(403, { "Content-Type": "application/json" });
    res.end(JSON.stringify({ error: "Forbidden" }));
  } else {
    res.writeHead(200, { "Content-Type": "application/json" });
    res.end(JSON.stringify({ message: "Hello world" }));
  }
});

server.listen(8000);

Shield example

Arcjet Shield protects your application against common attacks, including the OWASP Top 10. You can run Shield on every request with negligible performance impact.

import arcjet, { shield } from "@arcjet/node";
import http from "node:http";

const aj = arcjet({
  key: process.env.ARCJET_KEY!, // Get your site key from https://app.arcjet.com
  rules: [
    shield({
      mode: "LIVE", // will block requests. Use "DRY_RUN" to log only
    }),
  ],
});

const server = http.createServer(async function (
  req: http.IncomingMessage,
  res: http.ServerResponse,
) {
  const decision = await aj.protect(req);

  if (decision.isDenied()) {
    res.writeHead(403, { "Content-Type": "application/json" });
    res.end(JSON.stringify({ error: "Forbidden" }));
  } else {
    res.writeHead(200, { "Content-Type": "application/json" });
    res.end(JSON.stringify({ message: "Hello world" }));
  }
});

server.listen(8000);

License

Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0.

Changelog

1.0.0-beta.2 (2025-02-04)

🚀 New Features

• env: Support MODE environment variable for isDevelopment detection (#3012) (f3a45a7)
• Implement Astro integration (#2992) (a48eea8), closes #1075
• nestjs: Allow NestJS v11 as peerDependency (#3042) (4a75963), closes #2921
• redact: Pre-compile WebAssembly on module load (#3037) (c12bec5)

🪲 Bug Fixes

• analyze: Always lowercase headers and iterate in insertion order (#2865) (a9af1e4)
• arcjet: Ensure Characteristics are readonly type on protect signup options (#3013) (1f16a99)
• protocol: Double timeout when email rule configured (#2934) (23f9a9e), closes #1697

🧹 Miscellaneous Chores

• ci: Add dependabot for Astro example (#3068) (d4d8f82)
• ci: Avoid upgrading Tailwind where it breaks things (#3081) (5c25abe)
• ci: Restrict tailwind-merge where tailwind restricted (#3089) (a3437a5)
• docs: Add a link to the Redact reference page (#3038) (6095b6a)
• Refresh root & Next.js READMEs (#3066) (57a38d7)
• rollup-config: Consolidate wasmToModule plugin (#3039) (c3b8e36)