How to Build a REST API with Laravel Sanctum

Building a REST API with authentication looks complicated, but Laravel Sanctum makes it simple. Sanctum is a great fit for APIs used by mobile apps or SPA front-ends (Vue/React). This article guides you through building an API with token-based login from scratch.

Step 1: Install Sanctum

composer require laravel/sanctum
php artisan migrate

In the latest Laravel versions, Sanctum is automatically ready to use for API tokens without complicated additional configuration.

Step 2: Set Up the User Model

Make sure the User model uses the HasApiTokens trait:

use Laravel\Sanctum\HasApiTokens;

class User extends Authenticatable
{
    use HasApiTokens, HasFactory, Notifiable;
}

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How to Build a REST API with Laravel Sanctum

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