Skip to content

docs: clarify actions definition in custom db docs #648

New issue

Have a question about this project? Sign up for a free GitHub account to open an issue and contact its maintainers and the community.

Sign up for GitHub

By clicking “Sign up for GitHub”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy statement. We’ll occasionally send you account related emails.

Already on GitHub? Sign in to your account

Merged
hazel-nut merged 3 commits into from
Apr 7, 2026
Merged

docs: clarify actions definition in custom db docs #648

Changes from all commits
Commits
Show all changes
3 commits
Select commit Hold shift + click to select a range
de815dc
Update custom-db.mdx
nick-gagliardi Feb 19, 2026
b7bfa3d
Update main/docs/authenticate/database-connections/custom-db.mdx
nick-gagliardi Feb 26, 2026
72fc6d4
Merge branch 'main' into docs-5301
nick-gagliardi Mar 3, 2026
File filter

Filter by extension

Filter by extension
Conversations
Failed to load comments.
Loading
Jump to
Jump to file
Failed to load files.
Loading
Diff view
Diff view
5 changes: 3 additions & 2 deletions main/docs/authenticate/database-connections/custom-db.mdx
View file
Open in desktop
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -5,11 +5,12 @@ validatedOn: 2026-02-25
---
Use a custom database connection when you want to provide Auth0 with access to your own independent (legacy) identity data store primarily for authentication (filling the role of an <Tooltip tip="Identity Provider (IdP): Service that stores and manages digital identities." cta="View Glossary" href="/docs/glossary?term=identity+provider">identity provider</Tooltip>) and for migrating user data to Auth0's data store.

Auth0 [Extensibility](/docs/customize/extensions) allows you to add custom logic to build out last-mile solutions for Identity and Access Management (IdAM). Auth0 extensibility includes [Actions](/docs/customize/actions), and [scripts](/docs/authenticate/database-connections/custom-db/templates) for both custom database connections and custom database migration. Each is implemented using [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en/) running on the Auth0 platform in an Auth0 tenant.
Auth0 [Extensibility](/docs/customize/extensions) allows you to add custom logic to build out last-mile solutions for Identity and Access Management (IdAM). Auth0 provides extensibility through [Actions](/docs/customize/actions) and [scripts](/docs/authenticate/database-connections/custom-db/templates) for both custom database connections and custom database migration. Each is implemented using [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en/) running on the Auth0 platform in an Auth0 tenant.

Auth0 extensibility executes at different points in the IAM pipeline:

* **Actions** extend processes called flows, which are made up of one or more triggers, and which represent the logical pipeline through which information moves during a single point in the Auth0 journey. To learn more about available flows and triggers, read [Explore Flows and Triggers](/docs/customize/actions/explore-triggers).
* **Actions** are secure, tenant-specific, versioned functions written in Node.js that execute at certain points within the Auth0 platform. Actions are used to customize and extend Auth0’s capabilities with custom logic. To learn more, read [Understand how Auth0 Actions Work](/docs/customize/actions/actions-overview).

* **Custom database action scripts** can be used to integrate with an existing user identity store, or can be used where [automatic user migration](/docs/manage-users/user-migration) from a legacy identity store is required. Various [templates](/docs/authenticate/database-connections/custom-db/templates) are provided.

Whatever the use case, Auth0 extensibility allows you to tailor IAM operations to your exact requirements. However, if not used in the right way, this can open up the potential for improper or unintended use which can lead to problematic situations down the line. In an attempt to address matters ahead of time, Auth0 provides [best practice guidance](/docs/authenticate/database-connections/custom-db/custom-database-connections-scripts) to both designers and implementers, and we recommend reading it in its entirety at least once, even if you've already started your journey with Auth0.
Expand Down