How to set up JWT authentication with Supabase in React Native

JWT authentication should feel invisible to users but explicit to developers. In React Native, the cleanest flow is to centralise token handling and make refresh logic automatic.

Core setup pattern

1. Create a dedicated Supabase client module.
2. Store session tokens in secure storage.
3. Hydrate auth state on app launch before rendering protected routes.
4. Add refresh handling and clear failure states.

Practical tips

• Keep token parsing and role checks in one auth service.
• Avoid spreading raw session checks across screens.
• Log auth failures with metadata so debugging is fast.

Security baseline

Use role-based claims, protect API routes server-side, and enforce short token lifetimes with reliable refresh.