Laravel Precognition: Validate Forms Before Submit (No More “Wait, Error!”)

We’ve all been there: you fill out a form, hit submit, wait a few seconds… and boom — an error message. It’s frustrating for users and embarrassing for developers.

Laravel’s answer? Precognition.
A feature that lets you validate forms before they’re submitted, eliminating the dreaded “wait, error” cycle.

🚨 The Problem with Traditional Validation

Traditional form validation works like this:

User fills out a form.
Submits it.
Server validates.
If invalid, returns errors.

This means users only discover mistakes after submission. It slows down the experience and feels clunky compared to modern, real-time apps.

🔑 Enter Laravel Precognition

Precognition flips the script. It allows your frontend to ask Laravel:
“Hey, if I submitted this form right now, would it pass validation?”

Laravel responds with validation results — without actually saving or processing the form.

This gives you instant feedback, so users can fix issues before hitting submit.

⚡ How Precognition Works

Precognition adds a special middleware and request handling layer. Here’s the flow:

Frontend sends a precognition request (usually via Axios or Fetch).
Laravel runs validation rules as if the form were submitted.
No database changes happen — only validation.
Frontend receives validation errors instantly.

Example: Validating a Registration Form

Controller:

public function store(Request $request)
{
    $request->validate([
        'name' => ['required', 'string', 'max:255'],
        'email' => ['required', 'email', 'unique:users,email'],
        'password' => ['required', 'min:8'],
    ]);

    // Only runs if not a precognition request
    User::create($request->only('name', 'email', 'password'));
}

Frontend (Vue/React with Axios):

axios.post('/register', formData, {
  headers: { 'Precognition': 'true' }
})
.then(response => {
  // Handle validation feedback instantly
})
.catch(error => {
  // Show validation errors without full submit
});

🛠️ Benefits of Precognition

Instant Feedback: Users see errors before submitting.
Better UX: Forms feel modern and responsive.
No Extra Boilerplate: Uses Laravel’s existing validation rules.
Secure: Validation still happens server-side, no trust issues.
Efficient: Saves server cycles by avoiding unnecessary full submissions.

🌐 Real-World Use Cases

Signup/Login Forms: Catch invalid emails or weak passwords instantly.
Checkout Pages: Validate shipping addresses before hitting “Pay.”
Profile Updates: Ensure unique usernames without multiple retries.
Multi-Step Forms: Validate each step before moving forward.

⚖️ Why It Matters

Precognition isn’t just a neat trick — it’s a UX upgrade.
Users expect instant feedback. They don’t want to wait, submit, and then be told they messed up.

By validating before submission, you reduce friction, increase trust, and make your app feel polished.

🧭 Final Thoughts

Laravel Precognition embodies what makes Laravel special: developer happiness + user experience.

With just a few tweaks, you can transform your forms from clunky to seamless. No more “wait, error.” Just smooth, instant validation that feels like magic.

If you’re building SaaS apps or modern SPAs, Precognition isn’t optional — it’s essential.