Illuminate\Auth\TokenGuard Auth:user() is null

[sebestenyb]

Hi,

I'm struggling with implementing the token based authentication scheme.
Using a clean Laravel 5.2 install and a php artisan make:auth I create the following test route:

// routes.php
Route::get('/home-index',   ['uses' => 'HomeController@index',      'middleware' => ['web']]);
Route::get('/home-web',     ['uses' => 'HomeController@index',      'middleware' => ['web', 'auth:web']]);
Route::get('/home-api',     ['uses' => 'HomeController@index',      'middleware' => ['api', 'auth:api']]);

The HomeController looks like

<?php

namespace App\Http\Controllers;

use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Auth;

class HomeController extends Controller
{
    public function index()
    {
        dd(Auth::user());
    }
}

1. /home-index works as I expect, returns the logged in user, or null, if I'm not logged in
2. /home-web works as I expect, returns the logged in user, or redirect me to the login page
3. /home-api doesn't work as I expect:
   1. while it redirects me to the login page if I don't pass a ?api_token=xxxxx,
   2. if I'm using /home-api?api_token=xxxxx it returns null (my users table has a column called api_token, and I'm using an existing token)

The only way I could retrieve the user with the corresponding api_token is to use dd(Auth::guard('api')->user());, which is not ideal.

So what do I miss here? Is there a more consolidated way to retrieve the authenticated user, without specifying the guard I'm using?

Thanks, Sebi

[hiendv]

The guard used in middlewares is not applied on Auth when accessing these controllers. The specification of guard() is a must if you are not using the default guard, IMO.

[sebestenyb]

Yeah, I've seen that here, no matter which guard is used, it's not taken into consideration there: https://github.com/laravel/framework/blob/5.2/src/Illuminate/Auth/AuthManager.php#L244
Not sure if it's a bug, or by design, I'd be very happy to see this working, it would make things way more easy.

Anyhow, the documentation is a bit confusing, as it suggests that:

For example, Laravel ships with a session guard which maintains state using session storage and cookies and a token guard, which authenticates users using a "API token" that is passed with each request.

You may access the authenticated user via the Auth facade: $user = Auth::user();

Thanks, Sebi

[hiendv]

@sebestenyb Actually it does. Take a look at these lines: https://github.com/laravel/framework/blob/5.2/src/Illuminate/Auth/AuthManager.php#L66-L79
When you give a specific guard, AuthManager will resolve it to Session or Token driver.
Method __call is clearly stated as

    /**
     * Dynamically call the default driver instance.
     *
     * @param  string  $method
     * @param  array  $parameters
     * @return mixed
     */

[sebestenyb]

When I'm saying documentation, I refer to https://laravel.com/docs/5.2/authentication#retrieving-the-authenticated-user.

And when I'm saying the documentation is confusing, I'm referring that it states

a token guard, which authenticates users using a "API token"

and then later

You may access the authenticated user via the Auth facade: $user = Auth::user();

But actually it's not possible to retrieve the authenticated user using $user = Auth::user(), if it's authenticated via the TokenGuard.

Anyway thanks for looking at this. As far as I understand, it's Working as Intended :)

Cheers, Sebi

[hiendv]

I was talking about your first part. I agree that the organization of Authentication Guard documentation is not really good. It seems very "fragmented".
You're welcome ;)

[paulocastellano]

+1

[GrahamCampbell]

This doesn't appear to be a "bug", though we are of course open to PRs to improve the docs as always,

[sebestenyb]

One more comment, you can't use policies to authorise users authenticated via the TokenGuard:

Illuminate\Foundation\Auth\AccessAuthorizesRequests::authorize
Illuminate\Auth\Access\Gate::authorize
Illuminate\Auth\Access\Gate::raw
Illuminate\Auth\Access\Gate::resolveUser
Auth::user()

[roshimon]

API Token Authentication in Laravel 5.2
By JacobBennett

https://gistlog.co/JacobBennett/090369fbab0b31130b51

[tlaverdure]

I ran into this today as I was trying to use $request->user(); with the token guard. Is there a cleaner or default way to do this? Currently just placing this in App\Middleware\Authenticate

public function handle($request, Closure $next, $guard = null)
{
    ...

    //Set $request->user() to Auth::guard('api')->user();
    if (Auth::guard($guard)->user() && $guard == 'api') {
        $request->setUserResolver(function () use ($guard) {
            return Auth::guard($guard)->user();
        });
    }

   ...
}

Using $request->user() seems like it would limit the if/else statements needed when switching guards.

[3onyc]

I'd expect the guard AuthManager uses to be the same as the one specified in my auth middleware, what would be the situation where you wouldn't want that to happen?

@tlaverdure you can add

if (!is_null($guard)) {
    Auth::shouldUse($guard);
}

in the Authenticate middleware to automatically change the guard if it's not the default.

Info: Auth::shouldUse

[BhavinShah2010]

hello,
this is my Routes.php

Route::group(['prefix' => 'api/v1', 'middleware' => 'auth:api'], function () {
    Route::post('/login',  'Userscontroller@user_login');
});

When I run in post man , I get error as

' <' unexpected

where am I lacking?