Laravel 101: An Introduction to the PHP Framework for Web Artisans

Laravel is a popular PHP framework that provides a powerful foundation for modern web applications. It enables developers to quickly create web applications with expressive and elegant code. With Laravel, you can rapidly build and deploy robust applications with features such as authentication, routing, sessions, queues, and more. In this tutorial, we’ll cover the basics of Laravel and how to get started with the framework.

What is Laravel?

Laravel is an open-source PHP web framework created by Taylor Otwell. It is designed to make developing web applications faster and more efficient. Laravel follows a Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern, which allows developers to separate the logic from the presentation of the application. It is built on top of the Symfony PHP framework, providing developers with a robust foundation for their application.

Laravel is designed to follow the best practices of web development, including the use of the SOLID principles and object-oriented design patterns. It also comes with a number of helpful features, such as an integrated templating engine, a powerful database abstraction layer, and an expressive syntax. These features make it easier to build robust web applications with less code.

Why is Laravel a Popular PHP Framework?

Laravel is a popular PHP framework for many reasons. It is fast, reliable, and well-supported. It has a large and active community of developers who are constantly contributing to the project. It also follows best practices and is well-documented, making it easier to learn and use.

Laravel also makes it easy to write testable code and provides numerous features to help developers create better applications faster. These features include an ORM, routing, authentication, and a templating engine. With these features, developers can quickly build complex applications with fewer lines of code.

Laravel also provides a number of helpful packages and libraries that make it easier to develop web applications. These packages and libraries include Stripe, Artisan, Eloquent, and more. These packages and libraries can save developers time and make it easier to create powerful applications.

Setup and Installation

Prerequisite Requirements

Before you can install Laravel, you will need to make sure that your development environment meets the following requirements:

• A web server such as Apache or Nginx
• PHP version 7.2.5 or higher
• MySQL, PostgresSQL, or SQLite
• Composer (a dependency manager)

Setting Up a Development Environment

Before you can start developing with Laravel, you need to set up a development environment. This includes installing all the necessary software, such as a web server, PHP, and a database.

First, you will need to install a web server such as Apache or Nginx. Next, you need to install PHP version 7.2.5 or higher. Finally, you need to install a database such as MySQL, PostgresSQL, or SQLite. Once these components are installed, you are ready to install Laravel.

Installing Laravel

Once your development environment is set up, you can install Laravel. The easiest way to install Laravel is with the Composer dependency manager. To install Laravel, you need to run the following command:

composer create-project laravel/laravel [project_name]

This command will install the latest version of Laravel. Once the installation is complete, you can run the following commands to start the development server:

php artisan serve

This command will start the development server and you will be able to access your application in your browser. You can now start developing with Laravel.

Getting Started With Laravel

Now that you have installed Laravel, you can start developing your application. Before you can start building your application, you need to learn the basics of the framework. In this section, we’ll cover the basics of working with routes, controllers, views, and models.

Working With Routes

Routes are used to define the behavior of your application. In Laravel, routes are defined in the routes/web.php file. Here is an example of a route definition:

Route::get('/', function () {
    return view('welcome');
});

This route definition will render the welcome view when the application's root URL is accessed. You can define routes for other HTTP verbs such as POST, PUT, and DELETE. You can also define routes for specific URLs or for resources.

Working With Controllers

Controllers are used to define the logic of your application. In Laravel, controllers are stored in the app/Http/Controllers directory. Here is an example of a controller definition:

use App\User;

class UserController extends Controller
{
    public function show($id)
    {
        $user = User::find($id);
        return view('users.show', compact('user'));
    }
}

This controller will find a user with the given id and render the users/show view with the user. Controllers are responsible for handling requests and sending the response back to the client.

Working With Views

Views are used to define the presentation of your application. In Laravel, views are stored in the resources/views directory. Here is an example of a view definition:

<h1>Hello, {{ $user->name }}</h1>

The view will display a greeting with the user's name. Views are responsible for displaying the data to the user in an attractive way.

Working With Models

Models are used to define the data of your application. In Laravel, models are stored in the app directory. Here is an example of a model definition:

class User extends Model
{
    protected $fillable = ['name', 'email', 'password'];
}

This model will define the data for a user. Models are responsible for interacting with the database and retrieving the data from it.

Advanced Laravel Features

Laravel comes with many advanced features that make it easier to develop powerful web applications. In this section, we’ll cover some of these features.

Database Migration and Seeding

Laravel comes with a powerful database migration system that makes it easy to keep track of database changes. This system enables developers to quickly create and modify database tables and columns. It also provides a way to seed the database with test data.

Authentication and Authorization

Laravel also provides a powerful authentication and authorization system. This system enables developers to quickly create user registration and login forms. It also provides a way to restrict access to certain areas of the application for certain users.

Queues and Task Scheduling

Laravel also provides a powerful queue system that makes it easy to run time-consuming tasks in the background. This system enables developers to queue tasks and run them in the background, freeing up resources for other tasks. It also provides a way to schedule tasks to run at specific times.

Conclusion

Laravel is a powerful and popular PHP framework that makes it easy to develop web applications. It follows best practices and provides numerous features to help developers create better applications faster. These features include an ORM, routing, authentication, and a templating engine. With these features, developers can quickly build complex applications with fewer lines of code.

Laravel also provides a number of helpful packages and libraries that make it easier to develop web applications. These packages and libraries can save developers time and make it easier to create powerful applications. With all these features, it’s no wonder why Laravel is a popular choice for web development.

Summary of Laravel Benefits

• Follows best practices and provides numerous features to help developers create better applications faster
• Provides a number of helpful packages and libraries that make it easier to develop web applications
• Easy to learn and use, with well-documented and well-supported code
• Large and active community of developers who are constantly contributing to the project

What to Learn Next

Now that you have a basic understanding of Laravel, you can start exploring the framework in more detail. You can learn more about the routing system, views, controllers, models, and other features of Laravel. You can also explore some of the packages and libraries that come with Laravel, such as Stripe, Artisan, Eloquent, and more.