public class User
    {
        public User()
        {
            UserRoles = new HashSet<UserRole>();
        }

        public int Id { get; set; }

        public string Username { get; set; }

        public string Password { get; set; }

        public string DisplayName { get; set; }

        public bool IsActive { get; set; }

        public DateTimeOffset? LastLoggedIn { get; set; }

        /// <summary>
        /// every time the user changes his Password,
        /// or an admin changes his Roles or stat/IsActive,
        /// create a new `SerialNumber` GUID and store it in the DB.
        /// </summary>
        public string SerialNumber { get; set; }

        public virtual ICollection<UserRole> UserRoles { get; set; }
    }

    public class Role
    {
        public Role()
        {
            UserRoles = new HashSet<UserRole>();
        }

        public int Id { get; set; }
        public string Name { get; set; }

        public virtual ICollection<UserRole> UserRoles { get; set; }
    }

    public static class CustomRoles
    {
        public const string Admin = nameof(Admin);
        public const string User = nameof(User);
    }

    public class UserRole
    {
        public int UserId { get; set; }
        public int RoleId { get; set; }

        public virtual User User { get; set; }
        public virtual Role Role { get; set; }
    }

    public interface IUnitOfWork : IDisposable
    {
        DbSet<TEntity> Set<TEntity>() where TEntity : class;

        int SaveChanges(bool acceptAllChangesOnSuccess);
        int SaveChanges();
        Task<int> SaveChangesAsync(bool acceptAllChangesOnSuccess, CancellationToken cancellationToken = new CancellationToken());
        Task<int> SaveChangesAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken = new CancellationToken());
    }

    public class ApplicationDbContext : DbContext, IUnitOfWork
    {
        public ApplicationDbContext(DbContextOptions options) : base(options)
        { }

        public virtual DbSet<User> Users { set; get; }
        public virtual DbSet<Role> Roles { set; get; }
        public virtual DbSet<UserRole> UserRoles { get; set; }

        protected override void OnModelCreating(ModelBuilder builder)
        {
            // it should be placed here, otherwise it will rewrite the following settings!
            base.OnModelCreating(builder);

            // Custom application mappings
            builder.Entity<User>(entity =>
            {
                entity.Property(e => e.Username).HasMaxLength(450).IsRequired();
                entity.HasIndex(e => e.Username).IsUnique();
                entity.Property(e => e.Password).IsRequired();
                entity.Property(e => e.SerialNumber).HasMaxLength(450);
            });

            builder.Entity<Role>(entity =>
            {
                entity.Property(e => e.Name).HasMaxLength(450).IsRequired();
                entity.HasIndex(e => e.Name).IsUnique();
            });

            builder.Entity<UserRole>(entity =>
            {
                entity.HasKey(e => new { e.UserId, e.RoleId });
                entity.HasIndex(e => e.UserId);
                entity.HasIndex(e => e.RoleId);
                entity.Property(e => e.UserId);
                entity.Property(e => e.RoleId);
                entity.HasOne(d => d.Role).WithMany(p => p.UserRoles).HasForeignKey(d => d.RoleId);
                entity.HasOne(d => d.User).WithMany(p => p.UserRoles).HasForeignKey(d => d.UserId);
            });
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Only used by EF Tooling
    /// </summary>
    public class ApplicationDbContextFactory : IDesignTimeDbContextFactory<ApplicationDbContext>
    {
        public ApplicationDbContext CreateDbContext(string[] args)
        {
            var basePath = Directory.GetCurrentDirectory();
            Console.WriteLine($"Using `{basePath}` as the BasePath");
            var configuration = new ConfigurationBuilder()
                                    .SetBasePath(basePath)
                                    .AddJsonFile("appsettings.json")
                                    .Build();
            var builder = new DbContextOptionsBuilder<ApplicationDbContext>();
            var connectionString = configuration.GetConnectionString("DefaultConnection");
            builder.UseSqlServer(connectionString);
            return new ApplicationDbContext(builder.Options);
        }
    }

{
  "ConnectionStrings": {
    "DefaultConnection": "Data Source=(LocalDB)\\MSSQLLocalDB;Initial Catalog=ASPNETCore2CookieAuthenticationDB;Integrated Security=True;MultipleActiveResultSets=True;"
  },
  "LoginCookieExpirationDays": 30
}

    public interface IUsersService
    {
        Task<string> GetSerialNumberAsync(int userId);
        Task<User> FindUserAsync(string username, string password);
        Task<User> FindUserAsync(int userId);
        Task UpdateUserLastActivityDateAsync(int userId);
    }

    public interface IRolesService
    {
        Task<List<Role>> FindUserRolesAsync(int userId);
        Task<bool> IsUserInRole(int userId, string roleName);
        Task<List<User>> FindUsersInRoleAsync(string roleName);
    }

    public interface IDbInitializerService
    {
        void Initialize();
        void SeedData();
    }

    public interface ICookieValidatorService
    {
        Task ValidateAsync(CookieValidatePrincipalContext context);
    }

    public class CookieValidatorService : ICookieValidatorService
    {
        private readonly IUsersService _usersService;
        public CookieValidatorService(IUsersService usersService)
        {
            _usersService = usersService;
            _usersService.CheckArgumentIsNull(nameof(usersService));
        }

        public async Task ValidateAsync(CookieValidatePrincipalContext context)
        {
            var userPrincipal = context.Principal;

            var claimsIdentity = context.Principal.Identity as ClaimsIdentity;
            if (claimsIdentity?.Claims == null || !claimsIdentity.Claims.Any())
            {
                // this is not our issued cookie
                await handleUnauthorizedRequest(context);
                return;
            }

            var serialNumberClaim = claimsIdentity.FindFirst(ClaimTypes.SerialNumber);
            if (serialNumberClaim == null)
            {
                // this is not our issued cookie
                await handleUnauthorizedRequest(context);
                return;
            }

            var userIdString = claimsIdentity.FindFirst(ClaimTypes.UserData).Value;
            if (!int.TryParse(userIdString, out int userId))
            {
                // this is not our issued cookie
                await handleUnauthorizedRequest(context);
                return;
            }

            var user = await _usersService.FindUserAsync(userId).ConfigureAwait(false);
            if (user == null || user.SerialNumber != serialNumberClaim.Value || !user.IsActive)
            {
                // user has changed his/her password/roles/stat/IsActive
                await handleUnauthorizedRequest(context);
            }

            await _usersService.UpdateUserLastActivityDateAsync(userId).ConfigureAwait(false);
        }

        private Task handleUnauthorizedRequest(CookieValidatePrincipalContext context)
        {
            context.RejectPrincipal();
            return context.HttpContext.SignOutAsync(CookieAuthenticationDefaults.AuthenticationScheme);
        }
    }

        public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services)
        {
            services.AddScoped<IUnitOfWork, ApplicationDbContext>();
            services.AddScoped<IUsersService, UsersService>();
            services.AddScoped<IRolesService, RolesService>();
            services.AddScoped<ISecurityService, SecurityService>();
            services.AddScoped<ICookieValidatorService, CookieValidatorService>();
            services.AddScoped<IDbInitializerService, DbInitializerService>();

            services.AddDbContext<ApplicationDbContext>(options =>
            {
                options.UseSqlServer(
                    Configuration.GetConnectionString("DefaultConnection"),
                    serverDbContextOptionsBuilder =>
                        {
                            var minutes = (int)TimeSpan.FromMinutes(3).TotalSeconds;
                            serverDbContextOptionsBuilder.CommandTimeout(minutes);
                            serverDbContextOptionsBuilder.EnableRetryOnFailure();
                        });
            });

            // Only needed for custom roles.
            services.AddAuthorization(options =>
                    {
                        options.AddPolicy(CustomRoles.Admin, policy => policy.RequireRole(CustomRoles.Admin));
                        options.AddPolicy(CustomRoles.User, policy => policy.RequireRole(CustomRoles.User));
                    });

            // Needed for cookie auth.
            services
                .AddAuthentication(options =>
                {
                    options.DefaultChallengeScheme = CookieAuthenticationDefaults.AuthenticationScheme;
                    options.DefaultSignInScheme = CookieAuthenticationDefaults.AuthenticationScheme;
                    options.DefaultAuthenticateScheme = CookieAuthenticationDefaults.AuthenticationScheme;
                })
                .AddCookie(options =>
                {
                    options.SlidingExpiration = false;
                    options.LoginPath = "/api/account/login";
                    options.LogoutPath = "/api/account/logout";
                    //options.AccessDeniedPath = new PathString("/Home/Forbidden/");
                    options.Cookie.Name = ".my.app1.cookie";
                    options.Cookie.HttpOnly = true;
                    options.Cookie.SecurePolicy = CookieSecurePolicy.SameAsRequest;
                    options.Cookie.SameSite = SameSiteMode.Lax;
                    options.Events = new CookieAuthenticationEvents
                    {
                        OnValidatePrincipal = context =>
                        {
                            var cookieValidatorService = context.HttpContext.RequestServices.GetRequiredService<ICookieValidatorService>();
                            return cookieValidatorService.ValidateAsync(context);
                        }
                    };
                });

public void Configure(IApplicationBuilder app, IHostingEnvironment env)
{
   app.UseAuthentication();

            var scopeFactory = app.ApplicationServices.GetRequiredService<IServiceScopeFactory>();
            using (var scope = scopeFactory.CreateScope())
            {
                var dbInitializer = scope.ServiceProvider.GetService<IDbInitializerService>();
                dbInitializer.Initialize();
                dbInitializer.SeedData();
            }

        [AllowAnonymous]
        [HttpPost("[action]")]
        public async Task<IActionResult> Login([FromBody]  User loginUser)
        {
            if (loginUser == null)
            {
                return BadRequest("user is not set.");
            }

            var user = await _usersService.FindUserAsync(loginUser.Username, loginUser.Password).ConfigureAwait(false);
            if (user == null || !user.IsActive)
            {
                await HttpContext.SignOutAsync(CookieAuthenticationDefaults.AuthenticationScheme);
                return Unauthorized();
            }

            var loginCookieExpirationDays = _configuration.GetValue<int>("LoginCookieExpirationDays", defaultValue: 30);
            var cookieClaims = await createCookieClaimsAsync(user).ConfigureAwait(false);
            await HttpContext.SignInAsync(
                CookieAuthenticationDefaults.AuthenticationScheme,
                cookieClaims,
                new AuthenticationProperties
                {
                    IsPersistent = true, // "Remember Me"
                    IssuedUtc = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow,
                    ExpiresUtc = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow.AddDays(loginCookieExpirationDays)
                });

            await _usersService.UpdateUserLastActivityDateAsync(user.Id).ConfigureAwait(false);

            return Ok();
        }

        private async Task<ClaimsPrincipal> createCookieClaimsAsync(User user)
        {
            var identity = new ClaimsIdentity(CookieAuthenticationDefaults.AuthenticationScheme);
            identity.AddClaim(new Claim(ClaimTypes.NameIdentifier, user.Id.ToString()));
            identity.AddClaim(new Claim(ClaimTypes.Name, user.Username));
            identity.AddClaim(new Claim("DisplayName", user.DisplayName));

            // to invalidate the cookie
            identity.AddClaim(new Claim(ClaimTypes.SerialNumber, user.SerialNumber));

            // custom data
            identity.AddClaim(new Claim(ClaimTypes.UserData, user.Id.ToString()));

            // add roles
            var roles = await _rolesService.FindUserRolesAsync(user.Id).ConfigureAwait(false);
            foreach (var role in roles)
            {
                identity.AddClaim(new Claim(ClaimTypes.Role, role.Name));
            }

            return new ClaimsPrincipal(identity);
        }

[Route("api/[controller]")]
[Authorize(Policy = CustomRoles.Admin)]
public class MyProtectedAdminApiController : Controller

        [AllowAnonymous]
        [HttpGet("[action]"), HttpPost("[action]")]
        public async Task<bool> Logout()
        {
            await HttpContext.SignOutAsync(CookieAuthenticationDefaults.AuthenticationScheme);
            return true;
        }

app.UseMvc(routes =>
{
    routes.MapRoute(
        name: "areas",
        template: "{area:exists}/{controller=Home}/{action=Index}/{id?}");
 
    routes.MapRoute(
        name: "default",
        template: "{controller=Home}/{action=Index}/{id?}"); 
});

[Area("Blog")]
public class HomeController : Controller
{
    public IActionResult Index()
    {
        return View();
    }
}

 [Route("[area]/app/[controller]/actions/[action]/{id:weekday?}")]

 @addTagHelper *, Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.TagHelpers

 @{
 Layout = "_Layout";
}

 @{
 Layout = "~/Areas/Blog/Views/Shared/_Layout.cshtml";
}

 <a asp-action="Index" asp-controller="Home">Link</a>

 <a asp-area="Services" asp-controller="Home" asp-action="Index">Go to Services’ Home Page</a>

 <a asp-action="Index" asp-controller="Home" asp-area="">Link</a>

"publishOptions": {
     "include": [
       "Areas/**/*.cshtml",
       ....
       ....
     ]

public void Configure(ILoggerFactory loggerFactory, IApplicationBuilder app, IHostingEnvironment env)
{
   loggerFactory.AddConsole(Configuration.GetSection("Logging"));
   loggerFactory.AddDebug();

{
    "Logging": {
        "IncludeScopes": false,
        "LogLevel": {
            "Default": "Debug",
            "System": "Information",
            "Microsoft": "Information"
        }
    }
}

{
    "dependencies": {
        //same as before 
        "Microsoft.Extensions.Logging": "1.0.0",
        "Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Console": "1.0.0",
        "Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Debug": "1.0.0" 
    }
}

[Route("[controller]")]
public class AboutController : Controller
{
    private readonly ILogger<AboutController> _logger;
 
    public AboutController(ILogger<AboutController> logger)
    {
        _logger = logger;
    }
 
    [Route("")]
    public ActionResult Hello()
    {
        _logger.LogInformation("Running Hello");
        return Content("Hello from DNT!");
    }

 loggerFactory.AddDebug(minLevel: LogLevel.Information);

  public enum LogLevel
  {
    Trace,
    Debug,
    Information,
    Warning,
    Error,
    Critical,
    None,
  }