SPA Authentication using Laravel 9 Sanctum, Vue 3 and Vite
Tags: laravel, vue, vite, tutorial
Published: 2022-08-01 14:20:06


[Laravel Sanctum](https://laravel.com/docs/9.x/sanctum?ref=techvblogs.com) provides a lightweight authentication system relying on Laravel's built-in cookie-based session authentication services.

### How Laravel Sanctum works

Before we start blindly mashing away without an understanding of what's happening behind the scenes, let's run over how Sanctum works.

Laravel Sanctum uses Laravel's cookie-based session authentication to authenticate users from your client. Here's the flow.

1.  You request a CSRF cookie from Sanctum on the client, which allows you to make CSRF-protected requests to normal endpoints like / login.
2.  You make a request to the normal Laravel / login endpoint.
3.  Laravel issues a cookie holding the user's session.
4.  Any requests to your API now include this cookie, so your user is authenticated for the lifetime of that session.

### SPA Authentication using Laravel 9 Sanctum, Vue 3 and Vite Example:

1.  Create Laravel Project
2.  Configure Database Detail
3.  Install `laravel/ui`
4.  Install Vue 3
5.  Install vitejs/plugin-vue plugin
6.  Update vite.config.js file
7.  Import Bootstrap Path in vite.config.js
8.  Install NPM Dependencies
9.  Update bootstrap.js
10.  Import Bootstrap 5 SCSS in JS Folder
11.  Vite Dev Server Start
12.  Install Laravel Sanctum
13.  Configure Laravel Sanctum
14.  Migrate Database
15.  Setup Frontend

### Requirements

1.  PHP ^8.0
2.  Laravel ^9.0
3.  MySQL
4.  Bootstrap 5
5.  Vue 3
6.  Vite

In this blog, together we will create a complete register and login feature for a single-page application with Laravel 9 Sanctum, Bootstrap5, Vue 3 and Vite.

### Step 1: Create Laravel Project

First, open Terminal and run the following command to create a fresh Laravel project:

```bash
composer create-project --prefer-dist laravel/laravel:^9.0 lara9sanctum-vue3-vite
```

or, if you have installed the Laravel Installer as a global composer dependency:

```bash
laravel new lara9sanctum-vue3-vite
```

### Step 2: Configure Database Detail

open `.env` and update database detail

```
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
DB_PORT=3306
DB_DATABASE=<DATABASE NAME>
DB_USERNAME=<DATABASE USERNAME>
DB_PASSWORD=<DATABASE PASSWORD>
```

### Step 3: Install `laravel/ui`

```bash
composer require laravel/ui
php artisan ui vue --auth
```

### Step 4: Install Vue 3

Now after installing node modules we need to install vue 3 in our application, for that execute the following command in the terminal **_npm install vue@next vue-loader@next_**. vue-loader is **a loader for webpack that allows you to author Vue components in a format called Single-File Components**. vue-loader@next is a loader that is for webpack to author Vue components in single-file components called SFCs.

```bash
npm install vue@next vue-loader@next
```

### Step 5: Install vitejs/plugin-vue plugin

In laravel 9 latest release install vitejs/plugin-vue plugin for installing vue3 or vue in laravel. This plugin provides required dependencies to run the vuejs application on vite. Vite is a build command that bundles your code with Rollup and runs of localhost:3000 port to give hot refresh feature.

```bash
npm i @vitejs/plugin-vue
```

### Step 6: Update vite.config.js file

Vite is a **module bundler** for modern JavaScript applications. Open vite.config.js and copy-paste the following code. First invoice defineConfig from vite at the top of the file and also import laravel-vite-plugin. Here **_plugins()_** take the path of the js and CSS file and create bundles for your application. you need to add vue() in the plugins array.

```javascript
// vite.config.js
import { defineConfig } from 'vite';
import laravel from 'laravel-vite-plugin';
import vue from '@vitejs/plugin-vue'


export default defineConfig({
    plugins: [
        vue(),
        laravel([
            'resources/js/app.js',
        ]),
    ],
});

```

### Step 7: Import Bootstrap Path in vite.config.js

First, you need to change vite.config.js and add the bootstrap 5 path & remove resources/css/app.css

```javascript
import { defineConfig } from 'vite';
import laravel from 'laravel-vite-plugin';
import vue from '@vitejs/plugin-vue'
import path from 'path'

export default defineConfig({
    plugins: [
        vue(),
        laravel([
            'resource/scss/app.scss',
            'resources/js/app.js',
        ]),
    ],
    resolve: {
        alias: {
            '~bootstrap': path.resolve(__dirname, 'node_modules/bootstrap'),
            '@': '/resources/js',
        }
    },
});
```

### Step 8: Install NPM Dependencies

Run the following command to install frontend dependencies:

```bash
npm install
```

### Step 9: Update bootstrap.js

We need to use `import` instead of `require`.

```javascript
import loadash from 'lodash'
window._ = loadash

import * as Popper from '@popperjs/core'
window.Popper = Popper

import 'bootstrap'

/**
 * We'll load the axios HTTP library which allows us to easily issue requests
 * to our Laravel back-end. This library automatically handles sending the
 * CSRF token as a header based on the value of the "XSRF" token cookie.
 */

import axios from 'axios'
window.axios = axios

window.axios.defaults.headers.common['X-Requested-With'] = 'XMLHttpRequest';

/**
 * Echo exposes an expressive API for subscribing to channels and listening
 * for events that are broadcast by Laravel. Echo and event broadcasting
 * allows your team to easily build robust real-time web applications.
 */

/*import Echo from 'laravel-echo';

window.Pusher = require('pusher-js');

window.Echo = new Echo({
     broadcaster: 'pusher',
     key: process.env.MIX_PUSHER_APP_KEY,
     cluster: process.env.MIX_PUSHER_APP_CLUSTER,
     forceTLS: true
});*/
```

### Step 10: Import Bootstrap 5 SCSS in JS Folder

Now you need to import bootstrap 5 SCSS path in _resources/js/app.js_

_resources/js/app.js_

```javascript
import './bootstrap';

import '../sass/app.scss'
```

### Step 11: Vite Dev Server Start

Now after installing the vue 3, we need to start the dev server for vite for that run the following command and it will watch your **_resources/js/app.js_** file and **_resources/css/app.css_** file. It also starts a vite server on http://localhost:3000. you can not open it in the browser as it is for vite hot reload and it runs in the background and watches the assets of your application like js and CSS.

```bash
npm run dev
```

### Step 12: Install Laravel Sanctum

You can find documentation on the Official [Laravel](https://laravel.com/docs/9.x/sanctum?ref=techvblogs.com) Website.

```bash
composer require laravel/sanctum
```

### Step 13: Configure Laravel Sanctum

Open `config/sanctum.php` and update the following code:

```php
'stateful' => explode(',', env('SANCTUM_STATEFUL_DOMAINS', 'localhost,127.0.0.1')),
```

You will need to change this when deploying to production, so adding `SANCTUM_STATEFUL_DOMAINS` to your `.env` file with a comma-separated list of allowed domains is a great idea.

Open `.env` file and add this line

```
SANCTUM_STATEFUL_DOMAINS=localhost:<PORT NUMBER>
```

#### Change the session driver

In `.env`, update session driver `file` to `cookie`.

```
SESSION_DRIVER=cookie
```

#### Configure CORS

Open `config/cors.php` and update the following code into the file:

```php
'paths' => [
    'api/*',
    '/login',
    '/logout',
    '/sanctum/csrf-cookie'
],
```

Also set `supports_credentials` option to `true`:

```php
'supports_credentials' => true,
```

Let's create our Vue component that will hold our login form and display some secrets.

### Step 14: Migrate Database

```
php artisan migrate
```

### Step 15: Setup Frontend

When we generated our frontend code earlier using **php artisan ui vue** , an example component was generated under `resources/js/components/ExampleComponent.vue`. Let's create other components for Login, Register, and Dashboard Page.

#### What is Vue Router?

[Vue Router](https://router.vuejs.org//?ref=techvblogs.com) helps link between the browser's URL / History and Vue's components allowing for certain paths to render whatever view is associated with it.

#### Features Of Vue Router

-   Nested Routes
-   Route params, query
-   Dynamic Routes Matching
-   Links with automatic active CSS classes
-   and many more

Let's install `vue-router`

```bash
npm install vue-router
```

Now, Create Components For Login and Register.

Create a File inside **resources/js/components** folder name with **Login.vue** .

`resources/js/components/Login.vue`

```html
<template>
    <div class="container h-100">
        <div class="row h-100 align-items-center">
            <div class="col-12 col-md-6 offset-md-3">
                <div class="card shadow sm">
                    <div class="card-body">
                        <h1 class="text-center">Login</h1>
                        <hr/>
                        <form action="javascript:void(0)" class="row" method="post">
                            <div class="col-12" v-if="Object.keys(validationErrors).length > 0">
                                <div class="alert alert-danger">
                                    <ul class="mb-0">
                                        <li v-for="(value, key) in validationErrors" :key="key">{{ value[0] }}</li>
                                    </ul>
                                </div>
                            </div>
                            <div class="form-group col-12">
                                <label for="email" class="font-weight-bold">Email</label>
                                <input type="text" v-model="auth.email" name="email" id="email" class="form-control">
                            </div>
                            <div class="form-group col-12 my-2">
                                <label for="password" class="font-weight-bold">Password</label>
                                <input type="password" v-model="auth.password" name="password" id="password" class="form-control">
                            </div>
                            <div class="col-12 mb-2">
                                <button type="submit" :disabled="processing" @click="login" class="btn btn-primary btn-block">
                                    {{ processing ? "Please wait" : "Login" }}
                                </button>
                            </div>
                            <div class="col-12 text-center">
                                <label>Don't have an account? <router-link :to="{name:'register'}">Register Now!</router-link></label>
                            </div>
                        </form>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
</template>

<script>
import { mapActions } from 'vuex'
export default {
    name:"login",
    data(){
        return {
            auth:{
                email:"",
                password:""
            },
            validationErrors:{},
            processing:false
        }
    },
    methods:{
        ...mapActions({
            signIn:'auth/login'
        }),
        async login(){
            this.processing = true
            await axios.get('/sanctum/csrf-cookie')
            await axios.post('/login',this.auth).then(({data})=>{
                this.signIn()
            }).catch(({response})=>{
                if(response.status===422){
                    this.validationErrors = response.data.errors
                }else{
                    this.validationErrors = {}
                    alert(response.data.message)
                }
            }).finally(()=>{
                this.processing = false
            })
        },
    }
}
</script>
```

Create a File inside **resources/js/components** folder name with **Register.vue**.

```html
<template>
    <div class="container h-100">
        <div class="row h-100 align-items-center">
            <div class="col-12 col-md-6 offset-md-3">
                <div class="card shadow sm">
                    <div class="card-body">
                        <h1 class="text-center">Register</h1>
                        <hr/>
                        <form action="javascript:void(0)" @submit="register" class="row" method="post">
                            <div class="col-12" v-if="Object.keys(validationErrors).length > 0">
                                <div class="alert alert-danger">
                                    <ul class="mb-0">
                                        <li v-for="(value, key) in validationErrors" :key="key">{{ value[0] }}</li>
                                    </ul>
                                </div>
                            </div>
                            <div class="form-group col-12">
                                <label for="name" class="font-weight-bold">Name</label>
                                <input type="text" name="name" v-model="user.name" id="name" placeholder="Enter name" class="form-control">
                            </div>
                            <div class="form-group col-12 my-2">
                                <label for="email" class="font-weight-bold">Email</label>
                                <input type="text" name="email" v-model="user.email" id="email" placeholder="Enter Email" class="form-control">
                            </div>
                            <div class="form-group col-12">
                                <label for="password" class="font-weight-bold">Password</label>
                                <input type="password" name="password" v-model="user.password" id="password" placeholder="Enter Password" class="form-control">
                            </div>
                            <div class="form-group col-12 my-2">
                                <label for="password_confirmation" class="font-weight-bold">Confirm Password</label>
                                <input type="password_confirmation" name="password_confirmation" v-model="user.password_confirmation" id="password_confirmation" placeholder="Enter Password" class="form-control">
                            </div>
                            <div class="col-12 mb-2">
                                <button type="submit" :disabled="processing" class="btn btn-primary btn-block">
                                    {{ processing ? "Please wait" : "Register" }}
                                </button>
                            </div>
                            <div class="col-12 text-center">
                                <label>Already have an account? <router-link :to="{name:'login'}">Login Now!</router-link></label>
                            </div>
                        </form>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
</template>

<script>
import { mapActions } from 'vuex'
export default {
    name:'register',
    data(){
        return {
            user:{
                name:"",
                email:"",
                password:"",
                password_confirmation:""
            },
            validationErrors:{},
            processing:false
        }
    },
    methods:{
        ...mapActions({
            signIn:'auth/login'
        }),
        async register(){
            this.processing = true
            await axios.get('/sanctum/csrf-cookie')
            await axios.post('/register',this.user).then(response=>{
                this.validationErrors = {}
                this.signIn()
            }).catch(({response})=>{
                if(response.status===422){
                    this.validationErrors = response.data.errors
                }else{
                    this.validationErrors = {}
                    alert(response.data.message)
                }
            }).finally(()=>{
                this.processing = false
            })
        }
    }
}
</script>
```
Create Layout Component For All Authenticated Pages. So we don't need to add header, footer, and any other component in all pages component so here we created a layout component named **Dashboard.vue.** Here in the component, We add header, footer, and router-view so every component will render in this router-view.

`resources/js/components/layouts/Default.vue`

```html
<template>
    <div>
        <nav class="navbar navbar-expand-lg navbar-dark bg-dark">
            <div class="container-fluid">
                <a class="navbar-brand" href="https://techvblogs.com/blog/spa-authentication-laravel-9-sanctum-vue3-vite" target="_blank">TechvBlogs</a>
                <button class="navbar-toggler" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#navbarNavDropdown" aria-controls="navbarNavDropdown" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Toggle navigation">
                    <span class="navbar-toggler-icon"></span>
                </button>
                <div class="collapse navbar-collapse" id="navbarNavDropdown">
                    <ul class="navbar-nav me-auto">
                        <li class="nav-item">
                            <router-link :to="{name:'dashboard'}" class="nav-link">Home <span class="sr-only">(current)</span></router-link>
                        </li>
                    </ul>
                    <div class="d-flex">
                        <ul class="navbar-nav">
                            <li class="nav-item dropdown">
                                <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="#" id="navbarDropdownMenuLink" role="button" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">
                                    {{ user.name }}
                                </a>
                                <div class="dropdown-menu dropdown-menu-end" aria-labelledby="navbarDropdownMenuLink">
                                    <a class="dropdown-item" href="javascript:void(0)" @click="logout">Logout</a>
                                </div>
                            </li>
                        </ul>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </nav>
        <main class="mt-3">
            <router-view></router-view>
        </main>
    </div>
</template>

<script>
import {mapActions} from 'vuex'
export default {
    name:"default-layout",
    data(){
        return {
            user:this.$store.state.auth.user
        }
    },
    methods:{
        ...mapActions({
            signOut:"auth/logout"
        }),
        async logout(){
            await axios.post('/logout').then(({data})=>{
                this.signOut()
                this.$router.push({name:"login"})
            })
        }
    }
}
</script>
```

`resources/js/components/Dashboard.vue`

```
<template>
    <div class="container">
        <div class="row">
            <div class="col-12">
                <div class="card shadow-sm">
                    <div class="card-header">
                        <h3>Dashboard</h3>
                    </div>
                    <div class="card-body">
                        <p class="mb-0">You are logged in as <b>{{user.email}}</b></p>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
</template>

<script>
export default {
    name:"dashboard",
    data(){
        return {
            user:this.$store.state.auth.user
        }
    }
}
</script>
```
Now add this page component to the router.

Create a new file `resources/js/router/index.js`

```javascript
import { createWebHistory, createRouter } from 'vue-router'
import store from '@/store'

/* Guest Component */
const Login = () => import('@/components/Login.vue')
const Register = () => import('@/components/Register.vue')
/* Guest Component */

/* Layouts */
const DahboardLayout = () => import('@/components/layouts/Default.vue')
/* Layouts */

/* Authenticated Component */
const Dashboard = () => import('@/components/Dashboard.vue')
/* Authenticated Component */


const routes = [
    {
        name: "login",
        path: "/login",
        component: Login,
        meta: {
            middleware: "guest",
            title: `Login`
        }
    },
    {
        name: "register",
        path: "/register",
        component: Register,
        meta: {
            middleware: "guest",
            title: `Register`
        }
    },
    {
        path: "/",
        component: DahboardLayout,
        meta: {
            middleware: "auth"
        },
        children: [
            {
                name: "dashboard",
                path: '/',
                component: Dashboard,
                meta: {
                    title: `Dashboard`
                }
            }
        ]
    }
]

const router = createRouter({
    history: createWebHistory(),
    routes, // short for `routes: routes`
})

router.beforeEach((to, from, next) => {
    document.title = to.meta.title
    if (to.meta.middleware == "guest") {
        if (store.state.auth.authenticated) {
            next({ name: "dashboard" })
        }
        next()
    } else {
        if (store.state.auth.authenticated) {
            next()
        } else {
            next({ name: "login" })
        }
    }
})

export default router
```

Add router into `resources/js/app.js`

```
import './bootstrap';
import '../sass/app.scss'
import Router from '@/router'

import { createApp } from 'vue/dist/vue.esm-bundler';

const app = createApp({})
app.use(Router)
app.mount('#app')
```

Before we make these requests, we'll need to set a base URL for our API (notice these are not included in the requests we have right now) and also enable the `withCredentials` option.

Open `resources/js/bootstrap.js`and add the following code into that file:

```
window.axios.defaults.withCredentials = true
```

The `withCredentials` an option is _really_ important here. This Axios instructs to automatically send our authentication cookie along with every request.

### What is Vuex?

[_Vuex_](https://vuex.vuejs.org//?ref=techvblogs.com) is a state management pattern + library for Vue. js applications. It serves as a centralized store for all the components in an application, with rules ensuring that the state can only be mutated in a predictable fashion.

Well, since we want to hold an overall authenticated 'state' in our client, using a state management library like Vuex makes sense here. It'll also allow us to easily check within any component if we're authenticated or not (e.g. our navigation).

Let's Install `Vuex`

```
npm install vuex --save
```

First, create a `resources/js/store/auth.js` file with the following.

```javascript
import axios from 'axios'
import router from '@/router'

export default {
    namespaced: true,
    state:{
        authenticated:false,
        user:{}
    },
    getters:{
        authenticated(state){
            return state.authenticated
        },
        user(state){
            return state.user
        }
    },
    mutations:{
        SET_AUTHENTICATED (state, value) {
            state.authenticated = value
        },
        SET_USER (state, value) {
            state.user = value
        }
    },
    actions:{
        login({commit}){
            return axios.get('/api/user').then(({data})=>{
                commit('SET_USER',data)
                commit('SET_AUTHENTICATED',true)
                router.push({name:'dashboard'})
            }).catch(({response:{data}})=>{
                commit('SET_USER',{})
                commit('SET_AUTHENTICATED',false)
            })
        },
        logout({commit}){
            commit('SET_USER',{})
            commit('SET_AUTHENTICATED',false)
        }
    }
}
```

The `state` the property holds whether we're authenticated or not, and holds the user details we'll be fetching once authenticated.

Our `getters` return to us that state.

Our `mutations` update our `state`. For example, once we're successfully authenticated, we'll commit a mutation to set authenticated to `true` and commit another mutation to set the user's details.

Sometimes we need our VueJS Web App to persist some information in browser local storage. It could be local settings, account info, or some tokens. We definitely don’t want to lose them once the page is refreshed. That's why we need to use [vuex-persistedstate](https://www.npmjs.com/package/vuex-persistedstate?ref=techvblogs.com).

Install `vuex-persistedstate`

```
npm i vuex-persistedstate
```
Now add the auth module to Vuex in `resources/js/store/index.js`.

```javascript
import { createStore } from 'vuex'
import createPersistedState from 'vuex-persistedstate'
import auth from '@/store/auth'

const store = createStore({
    plugins:[
        createPersistedState()
    ],
    modules:{
        auth
    }
})

export default store
```

Add Vuex into `resources/js/app.js`

```javascript
import './bootstrap';
import '../sass/app.scss'
import Router from '@/router'
import store from '@/store'

import { createApp } from 'vue/dist/vue.esm-bundler';

const app = createApp({})
app.use(Router)
app.use(store)
app.mount('#app')
```

open resources/views/welcome.blade.php and replace this code:

```html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="{{ str_replace('_', '-', app()->getLocale()) }}">
    <head>
        <meta charset="utf-8">
        <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">

        <title>SPA Authentication using Laravel 9 Sanctum, Vue 3 and Vite - TechvBlogs</title>

        <!-- Fonts -->
        <link href="https://fonts.bunny.net/css2?family=Nunito:wght@400;600;700&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">

        @vite(['resources/js/app.js'])
    </head>
    <body>
        <div id="app">
            <router-view></router-view>
        </div>
    </body>
</html>

```

Now define routes in **web.php** and **api.php** routes file. Go to **routes** folder and open web.php file and update the following routes:

**routes / web.php**

```
<?php

use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Route;

/*
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Web Routes
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| Here is where you can register web routes for your application. These
| routes are loaded by the RouteServiceProvider within a group which
| contains the "web" middleware group. Now create something great!
|
*/

Route::get('{any}', function () {
    return view('welcome');
})->where('any', '.*');

Auth::routes();

Route::get('/home', [App\Http\Controllers\HomeController::class, 'index'])->name('home');

```

Now, it's time to run our project.

```bash
php artisan serve
```

Open **localhost:<PORT NUMBER>** in the browser.

It'd be a good idea to follow along with the simple demo app that can be found in [this GitHub repo](https://github.com/suresh-ramani/lara9sanctum-auth-vite-vue3).

Thank you for reading this blog.