Laravel 5.2, auth::check return true after login but false after redirect

Question

I'm trying to use the authentication system that comes built in with laravel 5.2. The login seems to be working correctly, if I replace the return statement with Auth::check(), it returns true. But when I redirect to '/', Auth::check() suddenly returns false in my Auth middleware.

Sessions Create method:

public function create(Request $request) 
{
    $email = $request->email;
    $password = $request->password;

    if(Auth::attempt(['email' => $email, 'password' => $password])) {
        return redirect()->intended('/'); // returns true when replaced with Auth::check();
    }

    return redirect("login");

}

Auth Middleware:

public function handle($request, Closure $next, $guard = null)
{
    if (Auth::guest()) {
        if ($request->ajax() || $request->wantsJson()) {
            return response('Unauthorized.', 401);
        } else {
            return var_dump(Auth::check()); // returns false
        }
    }

    return $next($request);
}

Routes file:

Route::post('/create-session', 'SessionController@create');
Route::get('/logout', 'SessionController@logout');
Route::get('/login', function() {
   return view('login');
});

Route::group(['middleware' => ['web', 'auth']], function(){
   Route::get('/', 'HomeController@getIndex');
});

Answer 1

ALL routes that require sessions (which Auth uses) must have the 'web' middleware applied.

Also:

Your Auth::check() is being done in a code block that only runs if Auth::guest() is true. Auth::guest() is the inverse of Auth::check().

So you are saying in your middleware: If the current user is a guest (not authenticated), check if they are an authenticated user, which will always be false at this point.

Update:

Based on your comments: Do not add the authenticate middleware to the 'web' group. You will never be able to hit a 'web' route if you do this unless you were authenticated before you made this change. You are removing the ability to even be able to login if you do this.