Cookies in Laravel: How to Create, Read & Manage Cookies for User Sessions?

A potential shopper returns to the eStore and finds their cart is still full. And, a subscriber bypasses the login screen upon return to the website. This seamless experience is powered by cookies.

Cookies are small pieces of data that help remember user state and preferences between requests. Laravel cookies are non-negotiable for building professional web experiences.

This guide showcases all about cookies in Laravel: what they are, how they work, how you can use them, and more. Let’s get straight into it.

What are Cookies?

At its core, an HTTP cookie is a small piece of data that a website asks your browser to store on your device. It’s like a simple, text-based note that the site writes for itself.

After setting up cookies, every time you return to that same website, your browser sends the cookies back to the server. Cookies enable a simple “hand-off” of data. That allows a website to remember information about your website. Info like,

• Your login status
• Your site preferences (e.g., language or theme)
• Items you’ve added to a shopping cart
• Pages you’ve visited

In essence, with cookies, websites recognize you and create a continuous, personalized experience across different browsing sessions.

How Do Cookies Work in Laravel?

Laravel provides a clean, unified API for working with cookies, abstracting the raw HTTP layer. Interaction is primarily done through the Cookie facade and the cookie() helper function, which streamline the process.

The workflow follows a straightforward request-response cycle:

Setting a Cookie

In your controller, you create a cookie and attach it to the outgoing response. Laravel can encrypt and sign the cookie automatically to prevent client-side tampering.

// Using the cookie helper
return response('Hello')->cookie('user_theme', 'dark', 1440);

Storing a Cookie

The user’s browser receives this cookie in the HTTP response headers and stores it locally.

Retrieving a Cookie

On every subsequent request to your domain, the browser automatically sends the cookie back in its request headers. You can then access its value within your Laravel controllers.

// Retrieving a cookie value
$theme = request()->cookie('user_theme');

This cycle allows Laravel to maintain state by storing small amounts of data directly on the client-side. That is then passed back and forth with each HTTP interaction.

But how do Cookes differ from Sessions?

Cookies vs Sessions

While both manage state, cookies and sessions serve different purposes. The key distinction lies in where the data is stored.

In practice, managing Laravel sessions often entails using a cookie to store the session ID. It then acts as a key to retrieve the actual server-side data.

Why Use Cookies in Laravel?

Cookies are more than small data packets; they’re powerful tools for enhancing your Laravel applications. Let’s dive into the key reasons why you should consider using cookies in your Laravel projects:

• Maintain User State. Cookies excel at remembering user preferences like language or theme selections across multiple visits. This prevents the need for users to re-enter their preferences every time they interact with your application.
• Authentication Support. Cookies play a vital role in user authentication. By storing authentication tokens in cookies, you can enable features like “remember me” functionality. This allows users to stay logged in for extended periods.
• Enhanced User Experience. Cookies empower you to personalize the user experience. For example, you can consider a news website remembering a user’s preferred news category and displaying relevant articles upon their return. This level of personalization drives user engagement and satisfaction.
• Simplified Analytics. Cookies can be instrumental in gathering user behavior data for website analytics. By tracking user actions, you can gain valuable insights into how users interact with your application. This benefits in optimizing its functionality for better user journeys.

The advantages of cookies extend beyond these core functionalities. It can be used for functionalities like shopping cart management, A/B testing personalization, and more.

How to Use Cookies in Laravel?

Laravel simplifies cookie management with its Cookie facade and cookie() helper. Here’s how you proceed.

Set Cookies in Laravel

You can attach a cookie to an outgoing response. The cookie() helper is the most straightforward method. It requires a name, value, and expiration time in minutes.

// In your controller
return response('Welcome!')
       ->cookie('user_language', 'en', 60 * 24 * 30); // Expires in 30 days

Alternatively, you can use the Cookie facade to create a cookie first and then queue it.

use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Cookie;
$cookie = Cookie::make('user_language', 'en', 60 * 24 * 30);
return response('Welcome!')->withCookie($cookie);

Get Cookies in Laravel

Retrieving a cookie’s value is simple using the cookie() helper or the request facade.

// Using the helper
$value = cookie('user_language');
// Using the Request facade
$value = request()->cookie('user_language');

Delete Cookies in Laravel

To delete a cookie, you set it again with an expiration date in the past. Laravel provides a forget() method for this purpose.

// Using the helper with the response
return response('Language reset')
       ->cookie(cookie()->forget('user_language'));
// Using the Cookie facade
$cookie = Cookie::forget('user_language');
return response('Language reset')->withCookie($cookie);

Encrypted Cookies

For security, Laravel automatically encrypts all cookies by default. This prevents clients from viewing or tampering with the cookie values. When you retrieve a cookie using the methods above, Laravel automatically decrypts it.

If you need to create a cookie that is not encrypted (not recommended for sensitive data), you can use the Queue method.

// For a non-encrypted cookie
return response('Welcome!')->withoutEncryptingCookie('cookie_name')
       ->cookie('cookie_name', 'value', 60);

Set Cookie Expiration and Security

The third parameter in the make() method or helper controls the cookie’s lifetime in minutes. It’s crucial to set an appropriate expiration.

• Short-lived cookies (e.g., 20 minutes) are better for sensitive operations.
• Long-lived cookies (e.g., 30 days) are ideal for “Remember Me” functionality.

Furthermore, you can chain methods to set additional parameters for enhanced security. Like, restricting the cookie’s path and domain.

$cookie = Cookie::make('preference', 'dark', 1440)
                ->withPath('/')
                ->withDomain('yourdomain.com')
                ->withSecure(true) // Only send over HTTPS
                ->withHttpOnly(true); // Make inaccessible to JavaScript

By leveraging these built-in features, you can ensure your Laravel application uses cookies effectively and securely.So, want to use Laravel cookies to the best of their abilities? Then consult with a professional Laravel development company.

Additional Tips to Consider When Using Cookies in Laravel

We’ve dived into the core functionalities of cookies in Laravel. Here are some additional best practices to ensure you leverage them effectively:

1. Limit Data Stored in Cookies

Cookies are designed for small pieces of information that need to persist across user interactions. Avoid storing large amounts of data like user profiles or shopping cart contents exceeding a few items. Use Laravel’s session storage for extensive data management needs.

2. Use Laravel’s Built-in CSRF Protection

Laravel automatically generates a CSRF token for each active user session, stored in an encrypted XSRF-TOKEN cookie. This works in tandem with the Laravel middleware to protect your application from Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks. Never disable this for state-changing routes.

3. Secure Sensitive Data

Cookies are not inherently secure. Refrain from storing highly sensitive data like passwords or credit card information in cookies. Use Laravel’s robust authentication features and secure storage mechanisms for sensitive user data.

4. Set Appropriate Expiration Times

Cookies offer flexible expiration times. Set them based on the specific information they contain. Short-lived cookies for temporary data can expire after minutes, while user preferences might warrant longer expiration periods. Avoid excessively long expiration times to prevent unnecessary data storage.

5. HTTPS Only

For cookies containing moderately sensitive data (like authentication tokens), consider setting the secure attribute. This ensures the cookie is only transmitted over HTTPS connections, adding an extra security layer. This is particularly important if your application handles sensitive user information.

By following these additional tips, you can ensure cookies are used effectively within your Laravel applications. Indeed, cookies are a valuable tool, but understanding their limitations and best practices is important.

Security Pitfalls and Mitigation Strategies for Cookies in Laravel

While cookies are essential, they introduce specific security risks. Understanding these pitfalls and Laravel’s built-in defenses is crucial for application security.

Session Hijacking

An attacker steals a user’s session cookie to impersonate them.

Mitigation

Laravel’s session cookies are encrypted by default, rendering stolen values useless without the application key. Always use HTTPS in production to encrypt data in transit, preventing interception.

Insecure Cookie Storage

Storing sensitive data (like user IDs or passwords) directly in a cookie, where it’s accessible and modifiable by the client.

Mitigation

Never store sensitive data in cookies. Use cookies only for non-sensitive identifiers. Store the actual data securely in server-side sessions or a database.

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

Malicious scripts injected into your site can access cookie values, especially those not marked HttpOnly.

Mitigation

Laravel’s default session cookie is HttpOnly, preventing client-side JavaScript access. Apply this flag to any custom cookies you create using Cookie::withHttpOnly(true).

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)

A malicious site tricks a logged-in user’s browser into making an unauthorized request to your application, exploiting the user’s stored session cookie.

Mitigation

Do not disable Laravel’s CSRF protection. The framework automatically generates and validates a unique CSRF token for each user session, embedded in forms and verified via the VerifyCsrfToken middleware.

Session Fixation

An attacker forces a user to use a known session ID, potentially gaining access once the user logs in.

Mitigation

Laravel mitigates this by regenerating the session ID upon login. This is handled automatically by the framework’s authentication system. That ensures the session ID changes and invalidates any previously fixed IDs.

Let’s Conclude

Cookies in Laravel, though seemingly small, play a significant role in enhancing your Laravel application’s functionality and user experience. By understanding how to leverage them effectively, you can personalize user journeys, maintain state across visits, and streamline interactions.

This comprehensive guide has equipped you with the knowledge to confidently use cookies in your Laravel projects. From setting and retrieving cookies to managing expiration and security, you’ve gained the skills to effectively integrate them into your development process.

Looking for expert assistance in implementing cookies in your Laravel application? Our experienced Laravel developers for hire are here to help.

FAQs About Cookies in Laravel

Mayur Upadhyay

Leading digital transformation projects with precision and creativity, Mayur turns complex ideas into results-driven web solutions. As Project Leader at WPWeb Infotech, he leverages his expertise in Laravel, PHP, Shopify, and Drupal to deliver innovation, scalability, and long-term success.