SKILL.md
Setup
- Add
organization()plugin to server config
- Add
organizationClient()plugin to client config
- Run
npx @better-auth/cli migrate
- Verify: check that organization, member, invitation tables exist in your database
import { betterAuth } from "better-auth";
import { organization } from "better-auth/plugins";
export const auth = betterAuth({
plugins: [
organization({
allowUserToCreateOrganization: true,
organizationLimit: 5, // Max orgs per user
membershipLimit: 100, // Max members per org
}),
],
});
### Client-Side Setup
import { createAuthClient } from "better-auth/client";
import { organizationClient } from "better-auth/client/plugins";
export const authClient = createAuthClient({
plugins: [organizationClient()],
});
## Creating Organizations
The creator is automatically assigned the `owner` role.
const createOrg = async () => {
const { data, error } = await authClient.organization.create({
name: "My Company",
slug: "my-company",
logo: "https://example.com/logo.png",
metadata: { plan: "pro" },
});
};
### Controlling Organization Creation
Restrict who can create organizations based on user attributes:
organization({
allowUserToCreateOrganization: async (user) => {
return user.emailVerified === true;
},
organizationLimit: async (user) => {
// Premium users get more organizations
return user.plan === "premium" ? 20 : 3;
},
});
### Creating Organizations on Behalf of Users
Administrators can create organizations for other users (server-side only):
await auth.api.createOrganization({
body: {
name: "Client Organization",
slug: "client-org",
userId: "user-id-who-will-be-owner", // userId is required
},
});
**Note**: The `userId` parameter cannot be used alongside session headers.
## Active Organizations
Stored in the session and scopes subsequent API calls. Set after user selects one.
const setActive = async (organizationId: string) => {
const { data, error } = await authClient.organization.setActive({
organizationId,
});
};
Many endpoints use the active organization when `organizationId` is not provided (`listMembers`, `listInvitations`, `inviteMember`, etc.).
Use `getFullOrganization()` to retrieve the active org with all members, invitations, and teams.
## Members
### Adding Members (Server-Side)
await auth.api.addMember({
body: {
userId: "user-id",
role: "member",
organizationId: "org-id",
},
});
For client-side member additions, use the invitation system instead.
### Assigning Multiple Roles
await auth.api.addMember({
body: {
userId: "user-id",
role: ["admin", "moderator"],
organizationId: "org-id",
},
});
### Removing Members
Use `removeMember({ memberIdOrEmail })`. The last owner cannot be removed — assign ownership to another member first.
### Updating Member Roles
Use `updateMemberRole({ memberId, role })`.
### Membership Limits
organization({
membershipLimit: async (user, organization) => {
if (organization.metadata?.plan === "enterprise") {
return 1000;
}
return 50;
},
});
## Invitations
### Setting Up Invitation Emails
import { betterAuth } from "better-auth";
import { organization } from "better-auth/plugins";
import { sendEmail } from "./email";
export const auth = betterAuth({
plugins: [
organization({
sendInvitationEmail: async (data) => {
const { email, organization, inviter, invitation } = data;
await sendEmail({
to: email,
subject: Join ${organization.name},
html:
<p>${inviter.user.name} invited you to join ${organization.name}</p>
<a href="https://yourapp.com/accept-invite?id=${invitation.id}">
Accept Invitation
</a>
,
});
},
}),
],
});
### Sending Invitations
await authClient.organization.inviteMember({
email: "newuser@example.com",
role: "member",
});
### Shareable Invitation URLs
const { data } = await authClient.organization.getInvitationURL({
email: "newuser@example.com",
role: "member",
callbackURL: "https://yourapp.com/dashboard",
});
// Share data.url via any channel
This endpoint does not call `sendInvitationEmail` — handle delivery yourself.
### Invitation Configuration
organization({
invitationExpiresIn: 60 60 24 * 7, // 7 days (default: 48 hours)
invitationLimit: 100, // Max pending invitations per org
cancelPendingInvitationsOnReInvite: true, // Cancel old invites when re-inviting
});
## Roles & Permissions
Default roles: `owner` (full access), `admin` (manage members/invitations/settings), `member` (basic access).
### Checking Permissions
const { data } = await authClient.organization.hasPermission({
permission: "member:write",
});
if (data?.hasPermission) {
// User can manage members
}
Use `checkRolePermission({ role, permissions })` for client-side UI rendering (static only). For dynamic access control, use the `hasPermission` endpoint.
## Teams
### Enabling Teams
import { organization } from "better-auth/plugins";
export const auth = betterAuth({
plugins: [
organization({
teams: {
enabled: true
}
}),
],
});
### Creating Teams
const { data } = await authClient.organization.createTeam({
name: "Engineering",
});
### Managing Team Members
Use `addTeamMember({ teamId, userId })` (member must be in org first) and `removeTeamMember({ teamId, userId })` (stays in org).
Set active team with `setActiveTeam({ teamId })`.
### Team Limits
organization({
teams: {
maximumTeams: 20, // Max teams per org
maximumMembersPerTeam: 50, // Max members per team
allowRemovingAllTeams: false, // Prevent removing last team
}
});
## Dynamic Access Control
### Enabling Dynamic Access Control
import { organization } from "better-auth/plugins";
import { dynamicAccessControl } from "@better-auth/organization/addons";
export const auth = betterAuth({
plugins: [
organization({
dynamicAccessControl: {
enabled: true
}
}),
],
});
### Creating Custom Roles
await authClient.organization.createRole({
role: "moderator",
permission: {
member: ["read"],
invitation: ["read"],
},
});
Use `updateRole({ roleId, permission })` and `deleteRole({ roleId })`. Pre-defined roles (owner, admin, member) cannot be deleted. Roles assigned to members cannot be deleted until reassigned.
## Lifecycle Hooks
Execute custom logic at various points in the organization lifecycle:
organization({
hooks: {
organization: {
beforeCreate: async ({ data, user }) => {
// Validate or modify data before creation
return {
data: {
...data,
metadata: { ...data.metadata, createdBy: user.id },
},
};
},
afterCreate: async ({ organization, member }) => {
// Post-creation logic (e.g., send welcome email, create default resources)
await createDefaultResources(organization.id);
},
beforeDelete: async ({ organization }) => {
// Cleanup before deletion
await archiveOrganizationData(organization.id);
},
},
member: {
afterCreate: async ({ member, organization }) => {
await notifyAdmins(organization.id, New member joined);
},
},
invitation: {
afterCreate: async ({ invitation, organization, inviter }) => {
await logInvitation(invitation);
},
},
},
});
## Schema Customization
Customize table names, field names, and add additional fields:
organization({
schema: {
organization: {
modelName: "workspace", // Rename table
fields: {
name: "workspaceName", // Rename fields
},
additionalFields: {
billingId: {
type: "string",
required: false,
},
},
},
member: {
additionalFields: {
department: {
type: "string",
required: false,
},
title: {
type: "string",
required: false,
},
},
},
},
});
## Security Considerations
### Owner Protection
- The last owner cannot be removed from an organization
- The last owner cannot leave the organization
- The owner role cannot be removed from the last owner
Always ensure ownership transfer before removing the current owner:
// Transfer ownership first
await authClient.organization.updateMemberRole({
memberId: "new-owner-member-id",
role: "owner",
});
// Then the previous owner can be demoted or removed
### Organization Deletion
Deleting an organization removes all associated data (members, invitations, teams). Prevent accidental deletion:
organization({
disableOrganizationDeletion: true, // Disable via config
});
Or implement soft delete via hooks:
organization({
hooks: {
organization: {
beforeDelete: async ({ organization }) => {
// Archive instead of delete
await archiveOrganization(organization.id);
throw new Error("Organization archived, not deleted");
},
},
},
});
### Invitation Security
- Invitations expire after 48 hours by default
- Only the invited email address can accept an invitation
- Pending invitations can be cancelled by organization admins
## Complete Configuration Example
import { betterAuth } from "better-auth";
import { organization } from "better-auth/plugins";
import { sendEmail } from "./email";
export const auth = betterAuth({
plugins: [
organization({
// Organization limits
allowUserToCreateOrganization: true,
organizationLimit: 10,
membershipLimit: 100,
creatorRole: "owner",
// Slugs
defaultOrganizationIdField: "slug",
// Invitations
invitationExpiresIn: 60 60 24 * 7, // 7 days
invitationLimit: 50,
sendInvitationEmail: async (data) => {
await sendEmail({
to: data.email,
subject: Join ${data.organization.name},
html: <a href="https://app.com/invite/${data.invitation.id}">Accept</a>,
});
},
// Hooks
hooks: {
organization: {
afterCreate: async ({ organization }) => {
console.log(Organization ${organization.name} created);
},
},
},
}),
],
});