Simple basic auth example for Laravel

basicauthfilter.php

<?php

// this is a route filter that goes in your filters.php file
// you'll call this on a route by doing something like Route::get('/api/whatever', ['before' => 'auth.api'], function() {whatever});
Route::filter('auth.api', function()
{
	// get the basic auth username
	$key = Request::getUser();
	// get the basic auth password
	$secret = Request::getPassword();
	// on your model the credentials are stored on, lookup that user using the key and secret
	$consumer = Consumer::where('id', '=', $key)->where('api_secret', '=', $secret);
	// if there isn't exactly one consumer with those credentials
	if($consumer->count() != 1)
	{
		// return an http header and proper code
		$headers = array('WWW-Authenticate' => 'Basic');
		return Response::make('Invalid credentials.', 401, $headers);
	}

	// otherwise, share the model result with all of your views
	View::share('consumer', $consumer->first());
});