Clerk SDK Patterns

Overview

Learn common patterns and best practices for using the Clerk SDK effectively.

Prerequisites

• Clerk SDK installed and configured
• Basic understanding of React/Next.js
• ClerkProvider wrapping application

Instructions

1. Pattern 1: Server-Side Authentication
2. Pattern 2: Client-Side Hooks
3. Pattern 3: Protected Routes with Middleware
4. Pattern 4: Organization-Aware Queries
5. Pattern 5: Custom JWT Templates

For full implementation details and code examples, load: Read(${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/implementation-guide.md)

Output

• Server and client authentication patterns
• Protected route middleware
• Organization-aware queries
• Custom JWT tokens for integrations

Error Handling

Error	Cause	Solution
auth() returns null	Not in server context	Use in Server Components or API routes
useUser() not updating	Component not re-rendering	Check ClerkProvider placement
getToken() fails	Template not configured	Configure JWT template in dashboard
orgId is null	No organization selected	Prompt user to select organization

Resources

• Clerk SDK Reference
• Authentication Patterns
• JWT Templates

Next Steps

Proceed to clerk-core-workflow-a for user sign-up and sign-in flows.

Examples

Basic usage: Apply clerk sdk patterns to a standard project setup with default configuration options.

Advanced scenario: Customize clerk sdk patterns for production environments with multiple constraints and team-specific requirements.