/laravel-auth

name: laravel-auth
description: Use when implementing user authentication, API tokens, social login, or authorization in Laravel 13.
versions:
  laravel: "13.0"
  sanctum: "4.3"
  php: "8.3"
user-invocable: true
references: references/authentication.md, references/authorization.md, references/sanctum.md, references/passport.md, references/fortify.md, references/socialite.md, references/starter-kits.md, references/verification.md, references/passwords.md, references/session.md, references/csrf.md, references/encryption.md, references/hashing.md, references/templates/LoginController.php.md, references/templates/GatesAndPolicies.php.md, references/templates/PostPolicy.php.md, references/templates/sanctum-setup.md, references/templates/PassportSetup.php.md, references/templates/FortifySetup.php.md, references/templates/SocialiteController.php.md, references/templates/PasswordResetController.php.md
related-skills: laravel-api, laravel-permission, fusecore

<objective> Covers the Laravel 13 authentication and authorization ecosystem: Sanctum (API tokens, SPA auth), Passport (OAuth2 server), Fortify (headless custom-UI auth), Socialite (social login), starter kits, policies and gates, email verification, password reset, session management, CSRF / PreventRequestForgery, encryption, and hashing. Includes FuseCore modular- project integration patterns for auth (User module, cross-module authorization via policies). </objective>

Laravel Authentication & Authorization

Agent Workflow (MANDATORY)

Before ANY implementation, spawn 3 agents in parallel, one `Agent` call each with a `name`:

1. **fuse-ai-pilot:explore-codebase** - Check existing auth setup, guards, policies 2. **fuse-ai-pilot:research-expert** - Verify latest Laravel 13 auth docs via Context7 3. **mcp__context7__query-docs** - Query specific patterns (Sanctum, Passport, etc.)

After implementation, run **fuse-ai-pilot:sniper** for validation.

---

Overview

Laravel provides a complete authentication and authorization ecosystem. Choose based on your needs:

| Package | Best For | Complexity | |---------|----------|------------| | **Starter Kits** | New projects, quick setup | Low | | **Sanctum** | API tokens, SPA auth | Low | | **Fortify** | Custom UI, headless backend | Medium | | **Passport** | OAuth2 server, third-party access | High | | **Socialite** | Social login (Google, GitHub) | Low |

---

Critical Rules

1. **Use policies for model authorization** - Not inline `if` checks 2. **Always hash passwords** - `Hash::make()` or `'hashed'` cast 3. **Regenerate session after login** - Prevents fixation attacks 4. **Use HTTPS in production** - Required for secure cookies 5. **Define token abilities** - Principle of least privilege

---

Architecture

app/
├── Http/
│   ├── Controllers/
│   │   └── Auth/              ← Auth controllers (if manual)
│   └── Middleware/
│       └── Authenticate.php   ← Redirects unauthenticated
├── Models/
│   └── User.php               ← HasApiTokens trait (Sanctum)
├── Policies/                  ← Authorization policies
│   └── PostPolicy.php
├── Providers/
│   └── AppServiceProvider.php ← Gate definitions
└── Actions/
    └── Fortify/               ← Fortify actions (if used)
        ├── CreateNewUser.php
        └── ResetUserPassword.php

config/
├── auth.php                   ← Guards & providers
├── sanctum.php                ← API token config
└── fortify.php                ← Fortify features

---

FuseCore Integration

When working in a **FuseCore project**, authentication follows the modular structure:

FuseCore/
├── Core/                      # Infrastructure (priority 0)
│   └── App/Contracts/
│       └── AuthServiceInterface.php  ← Auth contract
│
├── User/                      # Auth module (existing)
│   ├── App/
│   │   ├── Models/User.php    ← HasApiTokens trait
│   │   ├── Http/
│   │   │   ├── Controllers/
│   │   │   │   ├── AuthController.php
│   │   │   │   └── TokenController.php
│   │   │   ├── Requests/
│   │   │   │   ├── LoginRequest.php
│   │   │   │   └── RegisterRequest.php
│   │   │   └── Resources/UserResource.php
│   │   ├── Policies/UserPolicy.php
│   │   └── Services/AuthService.php
│   ├── Config/
│   │   └── sanctum.php        ← Sanctum config (module-level)
│   ├── Database/Migrations/
│   ├── Routes/api.php         ← Auth routes
│   └── module.json            # dependencies: []
│
└── {YourModule}/              # Depends on User module
    ├── App/Policies/          ← Module-specific policies
    └── module.json            # dependencies: ["User"]

FuseCore Auth Checklist

• [ ] Auth code in `/FuseCore/User/` module
• [ ] Policies in module's `/App/Policies/`
• [ ] Auth routes in `/FuseCore/User/Routes/api.php`
• [ ] Sanctum config in `/FuseCore/User/Config/sanctum.php`
• [ ] Declare `"User"` dependency in other modules' `module.json`
• [ ] Use `auth:sanctum` middleware in module routes

Cross-Module Authorization

// In FuseCore/{Module}/Routes/api.php
Route::middleware(['api', 'auth:sanctum'])->group(function () {
    Route::apiResource('posts', PostController::class);
});

// In FuseCore/{Module}/App/Http/Controllers/PostController.php
public function update(UpdatePostRequest $request, Post $post)
{
    $this->authorize('update', $post);  // Uses PostPolicy
    // ...
}

→ See [fusecore skill](../fusecore/SKILL.md) for complete module patterns.

---

Decision Guide

Authentication Method

Need auth scaffolding? → Starter Kit
├── Yes → Use React/Vue/Livewire starter kit
└── No → Building custom frontend?
    ├── Yes → Use Fortify (headless)
    └── No → API only?
        ├── Yes → Sanctum (tokens)
        └── No → Session-based

Token Type

Third-party apps need access? → Passport (OAuth2)
├── No → Mobile app?
│   ├── Yes → Sanctum API tokens
│   └── No → SPA on same domain?
│       ├── Yes → Sanctum SPA auth (cookies)
│       └── No → Sanctum API tokens

---

Key Concepts

| Con