A new Password Rule object is now included in Laravel v8.39, thanks to the efforts of Nuno Maduro. The Password object has a fluent API for common password requirements as well as compromised passwords:

Coming to @laravelphp: Password Rule Object. 🔒

This rule object allows to easily customise the password complexity requirements. You may also ensure the password has not been compromised in data leaks by using the uncompromised() method. 🔥

🔗 https://t.co/eedKLQuZwp. pic.twitter.com/OBEyliQ7gw

— Nuno Maduro (@enunomaduro) April 23, 2021

Originally released in Laravel 5.5, custom validation rule objects offer a fluent alternative to string-based rules. In its simplest form, the Password rule object replaces string-based validation rules:

<?php

// String-based
$request->validate([
    'password' => 'required|string|confirmed|min:8',
]);

// Using the Password rule object
$request->validate([
    'password' => ['required', 'confirmed', Password::min(8)],
]);

In addition to replacing string rules with a fluent password rule object, the custom password rule object includes built-in methods for ensuring strong passwords:

<?php

$request->validate([
    'password' => [
        'required',
        'confirmed',
        Password::min(8)
            ->mixedCase()
            ->letters()
            ->numbers()
            ->symbols()
            ->uncompromised(),
    ],
]);

Never write custom regex logic for typical scenarios such as requiring mixed-case, letters, symbols, etc. The cherry on the top is the uncompromised() method which checks the password against a verification API to see if the password appears in data leaks. The release will ship with a NotPwnedVerifier implementation which uses the Have I Been Pwned API.

In addition to this excellent new custom validation object, Pull Request #36960 contains some good examples of using Laravel to test API calls and validation.