Access Control Generator
Creates access control infrastructure for RBAC/ABAC authorization patterns.
When to Use
| Scenario | Example |
|---|---|
| Role-based access | Admin, editor, viewer roles |
| Resource ownership | Users can only edit own resources |
| Attribute-based rules | Access based on resource state or user attributes |
| Complex authorization | Multiple voters with different strategies |
Component Characteristics
Permission
- Enum defining available permissions
- Hierarchical: parent permissions include children
- Type-safe, no magic strings
Role
- Value Object encapsulating role with permissions
- Supports role hierarchy (admin inherits editor permissions)
- Immutable, self-validating
VoterInterface
- Symfony-style voter contract
- Returns GRANT, DENY, or ABSTAIN
- Single responsibility: one voter per concern
AccessDecisionManager
- Aggregates multiple voters
- Strategies: affirmative (one grant), unanimous (all grant), consensus (majority grants)
- Configurable per security context
ResourceOwnerVoter
- Checks if authenticated user owns the resource
- Works with any entity implementing OwnableInterface
- Returns ABSTAIN for non-ownable resources
RoleVoter
- Checks if user has required role for the permission
- Supports role hierarchy traversal
- Returns ABSTAIN when permission not role-based
Generation Process
Step 1: Generate Core Components
Path: src/Infrastructure/Security/AccessControl/
Permission.php— Permission enumRole.php— Role value object with hierarchyAccessSubject.php— Value object wrapping the authenticated user context
Step 2: Generate Voter System
Path: src/Infrastructure/Security/AccessControl/
VoterInterface.php— Voter contract with GRANT/DENY/ABSTAINVote.php— Vote result enumAccessDecisionManager.php— Voter aggregation with strategiesDecisionStrategy.php— Strategy enum (affirmative, unanimous, consensus)
Step 3: Generate Concrete Voters
Path: src/Infrastructure/Security/AccessControl/Voter/
RoleVoter.php— Role hierarchy voterResourceOwnerVoter.php— Resource ownership voter
Step 4: Generate Tests
RoleTest.php— Role hierarchy testsAccessDecisionManagerTest.php— Strategy decision testsRoleVoterTest.php— Role voter tests
File Placement
| Component | Path |
|---|---|
| Core Classes | src/Infrastructure/Security/AccessControl/ |
| Voters | src/Infrastructure/Security/AccessControl/Voter/ |
| Unit Tests | tests/Unit/Infrastructure/Security/AccessControl/ |
Naming Conventions
| Component | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Permission | Permission |
Permission::Edit |
| Role | Role |
Role |
| Voter Interface | VoterInterface |
VoterInterface |
| Concrete Voter | {Context}Voter |
RoleVoter |
| Decision Manager | AccessDecisionManager |
AccessDecisionManager |
| Strategy Enum | DecisionStrategy |
DecisionStrategy::Affirmative |
| Vote Enum | Vote |
Vote::Grant |
| Test | {ClassName}Test |
AccessDecisionManagerTest |
Quick Template Reference
Permission
enum Permission: string
{
case View = 'view';
case Create = 'create';
case Edit = 'edit';
case Delete = 'delete';
case Manage = 'manage';
}
VoterInterface
interface VoterInterface
{
public function vote(AccessSubject $subject, Permission $permission, mixed $resource = null): Vote;
}
AccessDecisionManager
final readonly class AccessDecisionManager
{
/** @param list<VoterInterface> $voters */
public function __construct(
private array $voters,
private DecisionStrategy $strategy = DecisionStrategy::Affirmative
) {}
public function isGranted(AccessSubject $subject, Permission $permission, mixed $resource = null): bool;
}
Usage Example
$manager = new AccessDecisionManager(
voters: [new RoleVoter(), new ResourceOwnerVoter()],
strategy: DecisionStrategy::Affirmative
);
$subject = new AccessSubject(userId: $user->id(), roles: $user->roles());
if ($manager->isGranted($subject, Permission::Edit, $article)) {
$article->update($data);
}
Decision Strategies
Affirmative: ANY voter grants → GRANTED (default, most permissive)
Consensus: MAJORITY grants → GRANTED (balanced)
Unanimous: ALL voters grant → GRANTED (most restrictive)
Anti-patterns to Avoid
| Anti-pattern | Problem | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| String permissions | Typos, no IDE support | Use Permission enum |
| Inline auth checks | Scattered, unmaintainable | Centralize in voters |
| God voter | Single voter with all logic | One voter per concern |
| No ABSTAIN support | Voter must decide everything | ABSTAIN when not applicable |
| Flat roles | No inheritance, duplication | Role hierarchy |
| Missing resource check | Only role-based, no ownership | Add ResourceOwnerVoter |
References
For complete PHP templates and examples, see:
references/templates.md— Permission, Role, VoterInterface, AccessDecisionManager, Voter templatesreferences/examples.md— Authorization examples and tests