AWS Cognito user authentication and authorization service. Use when setting up user pools, configuring identity pools, implementing OAuth flows, managing user attributes, or integrating with social identity providers.
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aws-agent-skills
January 14, 2026
Select agents to install to:
npx add-skill https://github.com/itsmostafa/aws-agent-skills/blob/main//skills/cognito/SKILL.md -a claude-code --skill cognitoInstallation paths:
.claude/skills/cognito/# AWS Cognito
Amazon Cognito provides authentication, authorization, and user management for web and mobile applications. Users can sign in directly or through federated identity providers.
## Table of Contents
- [Core Concepts](#core-concepts)
- [Common Patterns](#common-patterns)
- [CLI Reference](#cli-reference)
- [Best Practices](#best-practices)
- [Troubleshooting](#troubleshooting)
- [References](#references)
## Core Concepts
### User Pools
User directory for sign-up and sign-in. Provides:
- User registration and authentication
- OAuth 2.0 / OpenID Connect tokens
- MFA and password policies
- Customizable UI and flows
### Identity Pools (Federated Identities)
Provide temporary AWS credentials to access AWS services. Users can be:
- Cognito User Pool users
- Social identity (Google, Facebook, Apple)
- SAML/OIDC enterprise identity
- Anonymous guests
### Tokens
| Token | Purpose | Lifetime |
|-------|---------|----------|
| **ID Token** | User identity claims | 1 hour |
| **Access Token** | API authorization | 1 hour |
| **Refresh Token** | Get new ID/Access tokens | 30 days (configurable) |
## Common Patterns
### Create User Pool
**AWS CLI:**
```bash
aws cognito-idp create-user-pool \
--pool-name my-app-users \
--policies '{
"PasswordPolicy": {
"MinimumLength": 12,
"RequireUppercase": true,
"RequireLowercase": true,
"RequireNumbers": true,
"RequireSymbols": true
}
}' \
--auto-verified-attributes email \
--username-attributes email \
--mfa-configuration OPTIONAL \
--user-attribute-update-settings '{
"AttributesRequireVerificationBeforeUpdate": ["email"]
}'
```
### Create App Client
```bash
aws cognito-idp create-user-pool-client \
--user-pool-id us-east-1_abc123 \
--client-name my-web-app \
--generate-secret \
--explicit-auth-flows ALLOW_USER_SRP_AUTH ALLOW_REFRESH_TOKEN_AUTH \
--supported-identity-providers COGNITO \
--callback-urls https://myapp.com/callback \
--logout-urls