validate([ 'password' => 'required|string', ]); $expected = config('app.password'); if (! $expected || $request->input('password') !== $expected) { return back()->withErrors(['password' => 'Wrong password. Please try again.']); } // Store flag in session; expires with session lifetime (24 h in .env) $request->session()->put('gate_authenticated', true); $request->session()->regenerate(); return redirect()->intended(route('dashboard')); } public function logout(Request $request): RedirectResponse { $request->session()->forget('gate_authenticated'); $request->session()->regenerate(); return redirect()->route('gate.login'); } }