How to use Django's built-in password reset functionality

Django provides a built-in password reset functionality through the django.contrib.auth.views module. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use Django's built-in password reset:

1. Update URL Configuration: In your urls.py, include the following URL patterns:

   pythonCopy code
   from django.urls import path, include
   
   urlpatterns = [
       # other URL patterns
       path('password_reset/', include('django.contrib.auth.urls')),
   ]
   

   This line includes the default Django authentication views, including password reset views.

2. Configure Email Settings: Ensure that your email settings are correctly configured in your settings.py file. Django uses the EMAIL_BACKEND setting to send password reset emails.

   Example email configuration using SMTP:

   pythonCopy code
   # settings.py
   EMAIL_BACKEND = 'django.core.mail.backends.smtp.EmailBackend'
   EMAIL_HOST = 'your-smtp-server.com'
   EMAIL_PORT = 587
   EMAIL_USE_TLS = True
   EMAIL_HOST_USER = 'your-email@example.com'
   EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD = 'your-email-password'
   

3. Include Password Reset URLs in Templates: In your login template, you can include a link to initiate the password reset process:

   htmlCopy code
   <a href="{% url 'password_reset' %}">Forgot Password?</a>
   

4. Create Password Reset Templates (Optional): If you want to customize the password reset templates, you can create your own by extending the default templates. Place the templates in the registration folder within your app's templates directory.

   Example directory structure:

   Copy code
   yourapp/
   ├── templates/
   │   └── registration/
   │       ├── password_reset_form.html
   │       ├── password_reset_done.html
   │       ├── password_reset_confirm.html
   │       └── password_reset_complete.html
   

   You can find the default templates in the Django source code: django/contrib/admin/templates/registration/.

5. Run Migrations: Make sure to run migrations after making changes to the URL configuration:

   bashCopy code
   python manage.py makemigrations
   python manage.py migrate
   

6. Test the Password Reset Flow: Start your development server and test the password reset flow by going to the /password_reset/ URL in your browser. Follow the instructions to enter your email address, receive a password reset email, and set a new password.

That's it! Django's built-in password reset functionality should now be integrated into your project. Customize it further based on your project's specific requirements.