Laravel is a popular open-source PHP framework designed to make web application development faster, cleaner, and more maintainable. It follows the MVC (Model–View–Controller) architectural pattern, which helps separate application logic, presentation, and data handling.
It’s especially known for its elegant syntax, developer-friendly tools, and a large ecosystem that supports rapid application building.
Main Features of Laravel
1. MVC Architecture
Separates the application into:
- Model: Handles data and business logic.
- View: Displays UI to the user.
- Controller: Manages the flow between Model and View.
Improves code structure and maintainability.
2. Eloquent ORM
- Laravel’s built-in Object-Relational Mapping system.
- Lets you interact with the database using PHP objects instead of raw SQL.
Example:
$users = User::where('status', 'active')->get();
This translates into SQL automatically.
3. Blade Templating Engine
- Laravel’s lightweight template engine for creating dynamic views.
- Supports template inheritance, loops, conditions, and components.
Example:
@if($user->isAdmin())
<p>Welcome, Admin!</p>
@endif
4. Artisan CLI
Laravel’s command-line tool for automating tasks.
Common uses:
- Create models, controllers, migrations
- Run database seeds
- Clear cache
Example:
php artisan make:model Post -m
5. Routing System
- Simple and expressive way to define application routes.
- Supports RESTful APIs and route grouping.
Example:
Route::get('/users', [UserController::class, 'index']);
6. Database Migrations & Seeding
- Migrations: Track and modify database schema changes in version control.
- Seeding: Insert dummy/test data into the database.
Example:
php artisan migrate
php artisan db:seed
7. Built-in Authentication & Authorization
- Pre-built login, registration, password reset scaffolding.
- Simple Gate and Policy classes for role-based permissions.
8. Middleware
Filters HTTP requests before they reach controllers.
Example: auth middleware ensures only logged-in users can access a route.
9. Security Features
- CSRF protection for forms.
- XSS protection for views.
- Password hashing via bcrypt
10. Task Scheduling & Queues
- Scheduler: Automate recurring tasks via php artisan schedule:run.
- Queues: Process jobs in the background for better performance.
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11. Laravel Ecosystem
Laravel Breeze, Jetstream, Fortify: Authentication scaffolding.
Laravel Sanctum & Passport: API authentication.
Laravel Horizon: Queue monitoring.
Laravel Nova: Admin panel.
Laravel Scout: Full-text search.
Laravel Dusk: Browser testing.