In Laravel, use Gates for general authorization checks not tied to models and Policies for model-specific logic. Gates are simple closures ideal for global permissions like edit-settings, while Policies organize actions like update or delete around specific models. Use Gates when logic is straightforward and Policies when dealing with model ownership or complex rules. Avoid misusing Gates for model-based checks, overloading Gates with conditions, or failing to register Policies properly. Gates and Policies can coexist, allowing flexibility as app complexity grows.

When it comes to handling authorization in Laravel, two main tools are available: Policies and Gates. While both serve the same purpose—determining whether a user can perform a specific action—their use cases and structures differ. Knowing when to use one over the other helps keep your app organized and maintainable.

Let’s break down what each does best and how they fit into real-world scenarios.

What Are Laravel Gates?

Gates are simple, closure-based checks that determine if a user can perform a specific action. They’re ideal for general authorization logic that doesn’t tie directly to a model.

For example:

Gate::define('edit-settings', function ($user) {
    return $user->isAdmin();
});

You can then check this gate anywhere using:

if (Gate::allows('edit-settings')) {
    // Proceed
}

Use gates when:

• You're authorizing actions that aren't tied to a specific model.
• The logic is straightforward and not likely to grow complex.
• You need a quick way to centralize small permission checks.

They’re especially handy for global permissions like “access-admin-panel” or “delete-any-post”.

What Are Laravel Policies?

Policies, on the other hand, are classes tied to specific models. They help organize authorization logic around those models. For example, a PostPolicy might handle actions like view, create, update, and delete for the Post model.

You generate a policy with Artisan:

php artisan make:policy PostPolicy --model=Post

Then define methods inside it:

public function update(User $user, Post $post)
{
    return $user->id === $post->author_id;
}

Check it in your controller like this:

$this->authorize('update', $post);

Use policies when:

• Authorization logic is closely tied to a particular model.
• You expect the logic for a model’s permissions to grow over time.
• You want better organization and separation of concerns in larger apps.

This makes them perfect for things like checking if a user owns a resource before editing it.

When to Choose Gates vs Policies

Here's a quick comparison to guide your decision:

• ? Use gates for generic permissions across your app (like accessing admin features).
• ? Use policies when dealing with model-specific actions (like editing a post or deleting a comment).

Another practical tip:
If you find yourself writing a lot of gates related to a single model, consider switching to a policy. It keeps things cleaner and easier to manage as complexity grows.

Also, gates and policies can coexist. You can mix and match depending on what makes sense for each part of your application.

A Few Common Mistakes to Avoid

It’s easy to misuse gates and policies, especially when starting out. Here are some pitfalls to watch for:

• ? Using gates for everything—even when tied to models. This leads to messy code later.
• ? Overloading a single gate with too many conditions. Keep gates focused.
• ? Not registering policies properly. If a policy isn’t bound to a model in AuthServiceProvider, Laravel won’t use it.
• ? Forgetting to pass the model instance when calling authorize(). Policies rely on it for context.

One thing that trips people up is thinking that gates and policies are mutually exclusive. In reality, they complement each other well.

So basically, gates are for general checks and policies are for model-based ones. Pick whichever fits your scenario better—and don’t be afraid to switch between them as your needs evolve.

That’s about it.

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