Laravel API Authentication: Passport vs. Sanctum
Securing your Laravel API is a crucial aspect of building modern web applications. Laravel provides two popular packages, Passport and Sanctum, for handling API authentication. In this guide, we'll compare Passport and Sanctum to help you choose the right one for your project.
1. Laravel Passport
Laravel Passport is a comprehensive OAuth2 server implementation that provides powerful and flexible authentication for your API. Here are some key features:
OAuth2 Support
Passport supports OAuth2, which is great for scenarios where you need to provide third-party access to your API. It's a good choice for building APIs that are used by mobile apps, external services, or any situation requiring OAuth2-based authentication.
Token-Based Authentication
Passport issues access tokens for authentication, and it supports various grant types, including password grants, authorization code grants, and personal access tokens. This flexibility is useful for complex authentication requirements.
Scalability
Passport can handle large-scale applications, making it suitable for high-traffic APIs. It provides an array of authentication middleware, making it versatile for different use cases.
2. Laravel Sanctum
Laravel Sanctum is a lightweight, token-based authentication package built specifically for SPA (Single Page Application) and mobile app authentication. Here are some key features:
SPA and Mobile App Focus
Sanctum is tailored for SPA and mobile app authentication, making it an excellent choice for protecting your API in these contexts. It provides simple and easy-to-use authentication features.
API Tokens
Sanctum issues API tokens for authentication, which are simpler to work with compared to OAuth2 tokens. This is especially beneficial for smaller projects and applications.
Built-In CORS Support
Sanctum provides built-in support for Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS), which is vital for securing SPAs and mobile apps that make requests from different domains.
3. Choosing the Right Package
Choosing between Passport and Sanctum depends on your project's specific requirements:
Use Passport If:
- Your API needs OAuth2 support for third-party access.
- You require a variety of grant types for authentication.
- Scalability is a concern for your high-traffic API.
Use Sanctum If:
- Your API primarily serves SPAs or mobile apps.
- You want a simple and lightweight authentication solution.
- Built-in CORS support is essential for your project.
Conclusion
Laravel provides two excellent options for API authentication: Passport and Sanctum. Passport is a powerful solution with extensive OAuth2 support, making it suitable for complex scenarios and high-traffic APIs. On the other hand, Sanctum is designed for simplicity, making it a great choice for SPAs and mobile apps with straightforward authentication needs. The choice between these two packages depends on your project's specific requirements and complexity.
For further learning, consult the official Laravel documentation and explore practical tutorials and examples related to API authentication in Laravel web development.