Grant Global Super Admin Permissions with Gate::before()

Use Gate::before() in AppServiceProvider to grant master administrator privileges across all policies and authorization checks.

In applications with strict role-based access control, Super Admins often require universal access across all modules without having to add if ($user->isSuperAdmin()) return true; inside every policy method.

Gate::before() intercepts all gate and policy evaluations before individual policy methods are executed.

Configuring Gate::before in AppServiceProvider

namespace App\Providers;

use App\Models\User;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Gate;
use Illuminate\Support\ServiceProvider;

class AppServiceProvider extends ServiceProvider
{
    public function boot(): void
    {
        Gate::before(function (User $user, string $ability) {
            // Return true to grant access immediately
            if ($user->is_super_admin) {
                return true;
            }

            // Return null to fall through to standard policy checks
            return null;
        });
    }
}

Important: Return null, Not false

• Returning true: Immediately authorizes the user, bypassing all policies.
• Returning null: Passes evaluation to the matching Policy or Gate.
• Returning false: Immediately denies the user, blocking regular policy checks even if the user would otherwise be authorized.

Summary

• Centralizes Super Admin overrides in a single callback.
• Eliminates repetitive admin checks inside individual Policy classes.
• Always return null for non-admin users to allow standard policy logic to run.