Laravel Sanctum: Effortless Authentication for Your App

Laravel Sanctum makes authentication easy for web, mobile, and single-page apps. It's perfect for modern SPAs, mobile apps, or traditional websites. Sanctum simplifies user login, API access, and session management.

Modern apps need secure authentication without extra complexity. Laravel Sanctum eliminates the need to manage tokens, routes, and middleware manually. It works well with Laravel, saving time while keeping security high.

Learn how Laravel Sanctum improves your authentication workflows. This guide will cover its main features, setup, and best practices to create reliable, scalable authentication systems.

What is Laravel Sanctum and Why Use It

Laravel Sanctum is a simple way to secure web and mobile apps. It makes token-based authentication easy without the hassle of OAuth. It's great for SPAs and mobile apps, helping manage user sessions and API access.

The Evolution of Laravel Authentication

Laravel started with basic login systems. Then Passport came for OAuth2 APIs. But many apps don’t need all that. Sanctum fills the gap with key features like API tokens and cookie handling for SPAs.

Key Features of Laravel Sanctum

• API Tokens: Secure tokens for user permissions, no passwords needed.
• SPA Support: Authenticates via cookies for better UX.
• Mobile Integration: Easy token-based auth for mobile apps.

When to Choose Sanctum Over Passport

Choose Sanctum for token-based access in APIs or SPAs without OAuth2 needs. It's faster to set up than Passport, saving time, and ideal for apps needing simple, secure authentication.

Getting Started with Laravel Sanctum

Make sure your environment meets the requirements: Laravel 7+, PHP 7.3+, database setup, etc.

Install a new project or update dependencies if working on an existing app.

Installing Laravel Sanctum

composer require laravel/sanctum

php artisan vendor:publish --provider="Laravel\Sanctum\SanctumServiceProvider"

php artisan vendor:publish --tag=sanctum-config

php artisan migrate

Laravel Sanctum Authentication: Configuration Essentials

Adjust sanctum.php, set stateful domains, token expiration, guards, and CORS settings.

Use SANCTUM_STATEFUL_DOMAINS and SESSION_DOMAIN in .env.

Implementing API Token Authentication

$user = User::find(1);
$token = $user->createToken('API Access');

SPA Authentication with Laravel Sanctum

Sanctum manages cookie-based sessions for SPAs. Protect routes with middleware, include CSRF tokens, and authenticate via secure cookies.

Mobile App Authentication Strategies

Use token-based authentication, send Authorization headers with Bearer tokens, and store tokens securely in Keychain or Keystore.

Securing Your Authentication with Best Practices

• Rate limiting/throttling routes
• CORS configuration to allow only trusted domains
• Environment-specific settings and token lifetimes

Troubleshooting Common Laravel Sanctum Issues

Common problems: auth failures, CORS errors, token persistence, config conflicts.

Check middleware, .env variables, routes, and session storage.

Conclusion

Laravel Sanctum simplifies authentication for SPAs, APIs, and mobile apps. It balances speed, ease of setup, and security. Developers can build secure solutions without complex OAuth setups.

Frequently Asked Questions