Google reCAPTCHA is an essential security tool for modern websites, helping to protect them from bots and spam. Integrating reCAPTCHA into your website ensures that only real users can submit forms, improving security and user experience. This tutorial explains how to register for reCAPTCHA, generate the necessary keys, and integrate it into your site.
Step 1: Create or Use a Google Account
If you don’t have a Google account yet, you will need one to access reCAPTCHA. Go to the Google sign-up page to create a new account or use an existing one.
Step 2: Visit the Google reCAPTCHA Website
After logging in to your Google account, visit the Google reCAPTCHA page to begin registering your website.
Step 3: Register Your Website with reCAPTCHA
Click on the “Admin Console” button in the upper-right corner to register your website.
Step 4: Add a New Site
To add a new site, click the “+” button in the top-right corner of the reCAPTCHA admin console.
Step 5: Provide Your Website Details
Enter a name for your site and specify the domains where you will be using reCAPTCHA. You can add `localhost` for local development. Choose between reCAPTCHA v2 or v3:
- reCAPTCHA v2: The “I’m not a robot” checkbox
- reCAPTCHA v3: Invisible reCAPTCHA working in the background
Step 6: Agree to Terms of Service
Read and accept the Google reCAPTCHA Terms of Service.
Step 7: Get Your API Keys
Once you register your site, you’ll receive two keys: the Site Key (public) and the Secret Key (private). These are required for reCAPTCHA integration.
Step 8: Embed reCAPTCHA on Your Website
Integrate reCAPTCHA by placing the Site Key in the HTML of your contact form or login page.
For reCAPTCHA v2:
<div class="g-recaptcha" data-sitekey="YOUR_RECAPTCHA_SITE_KEY"></div>
For reCAPTCHA v3:
<script src="https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js?render=YOUR_RECAPTCHA_SITE_KEY"></script>
Replace YOUR_RECAPTCHA_SITE_KEY with the key from Step 7.
Step 9: Validate the reCAPTCHA Response
After a user completes the reCAPTCHA challenge, verify the response server-side using your Secret Key.
Example PHP code:
$recaptcha_secret = 'YOUR_SECRET_KEY';
$recaptcha_response = $_POST['g-recaptcha-response'];
$verify_url = 'https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api/siteverify';
$response = file_get_contents($verify_url . '?secret=' . $recaptcha_secret . '&response=' . $recaptcha_response);
$response_keys = json_decode($response, true);
if(intval($response_keys["success"]) !== 1) {
echo 'Please complete the CAPTCHA';
} else {
echo 'CAPTCHA verified successfully';
}
Conclusion
By following these steps, you’ve successfully added Google reCAPTCHA to your website. This will significantly reduce the risk of spam and bot attacks, ensuring a more secure experience for your users.
Additional Resources
For further guidance on Google reCAPTCHA, visit the following links:
