Effective user data management is crucial when integrating Capsule into your application. This guide covers best practices for handling user information, including storage, retrieval, and privacy considerations.

User Data in Capsule

Capsule’s approach to user data is designed with privacy and security in mind. Here’s what you need to know:

Managing User Data in Your Application

While Capsule handles the core wallet functionality, you may need to manage additional user data in your application. Here are some best practices:

Storing User Information

When storing additional user information in your application:

  1. Only store what’s necessary for your application’s functionality.
  2. Use secure, encrypted storage methods.
  3. Consider using Capsule’s wallet ID as a unique identifier for your users.

Example of storing user data:

type UserData = {
  capsuleWalletId: string;
  username: string;
  preferences: Record<string, any>;
};

// Assume you're using a secure database
async function storeUserData(userData: UserData) {
  await database.users.insert(userData);
}

// Usage
const wallets = await capsule.getWallets();
const walletId = Object.values(wallets)[0].id;

await storeUserData({
  capsuleWalletId: walletId,
  username: "user123",
  preferences: { theme: "dark" },
});

Retrieving User Information

To retrieve user information:

  1. Use Capsule’s methods to get wallet-related information.
  2. Fetch additional data from your own storage using the Capsule wallet ID as a reference.

Example:

async function getUserData(email: string) {
  const wallets = await capsule.getWallets();
  const walletId = Object.values(wallets)[0].id;

  // Fetch additional data from your storage
  const userData = await database.users.findOne({ capsuleWalletId: walletId });

  return {
    walletId,
    ...userData,
  };
}

Updating User Data

When updating user data:

  1. Use Capsule’s methods for updating wallet-related information.
  2. Update additional data in your own storage.
async function updateUserPreferences(walletId: string, newPreferences: Record<string, any>) {
  // Update in your storage
  await database.users.update({ capsuleWalletId: walletId }, { $set: { preferences: newPreferences } });
}

Privacy and Security Considerations

When managing user data, always prioritize privacy and security:

Data Minimization

Only collect and store data that is absolutely necessary for your application’s functionality.

Encryption

Always encrypt sensitive data, both in transit and at rest.

Access Control

Implement strict access controls to ensure that only authorized personnel can access user data.

Regular Audits

Conduct regular audits of your data management practices to ensure compliance with privacy regulations.

Compliance with Regulations

Ensure your user data management practices comply with relevant regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, or other applicable laws. This may include:

  • Providing users with the ability to request their data
  • Allowing users to delete their data
  • Implementing data portability features

Example of a data deletion function:

async function deleteUserData(walletId: string) {
  // Delete from your storage
  await database.users.delete({ capsuleWalletId: walletId });

  // Note: Capsule wallet data cannot be deleted directly through the SDK
  // Advise the user to contact Capsule support for complete account deletion
}

Remember that while you can delete user data from your own storage, Capsule wallet data is managed separately for security reasons. Users should be directed to Capsule’s official channels for complete account deletion requests.

Best Practices for User Data Management

  1. Separation of Concerns: Keep Capsule-related data separate from your application-specific user data.
  2. Regular Backups: Implement a robust backup strategy for user data stored in your application.
  3. Transparent Policies: Clearly communicate your data handling practices to users through privacy policies and terms of service.
  4. Secure Transmission: Always use secure, encrypted channels when transmitting user data.
  5. Data Validation: Implement thorough input validation to prevent injection attacks and ensure data integrity.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues with user data management:

  1. Ensure you’re using the latest version of the Capsule SDK.
  2. Verify that you’re correctly handling asynchronous operations when interacting with Capsule and your own data storage.
  3. Double-check that you’re using the correct wallet IDs and other identifiers.
  4. Review your error handling to ensure you’re catching and addressing all potential exceptions.