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Laravel is an open-source, free PHP web application framework specifically to develop web apps following the model-view-controller (MVC) architectural pattern. Over the years, Laravel has witnessed a phenomenal rise in the popularity of Laravel application development as one of the most popular PHP frameworks.
Developers widely rely on Laravel due to its high readability and rich-features. Laravel is a PHP web application framework offering elegant syntax that acts as a point of initiation for creating your application. Whether you are a novice PHP developer or possess extensive experience, Laravel helps your application grow.
Laravel provides an amazing developer experience with features such as dependency injection, an expressive database abstraction layer, queues and scheduled jobs, unit and integration testing, and more.
Laravel Development Best Practices 2022
The following are the emerging best practices in Laravel-
Using the latest version
It would be best to use the latest Laravel version for web solutions. Laravel continuously upgrades its operations and features within the framework, removing bugs and solving various issues of the previous versions. The latest version of Laravel, version 5.8 is the best and fastest way to find web solutions.
Use of Artisan
Command Line interface software plays a crucial role in the web development process. Laravel has its own Command Line Interface called Artisan. Artisan helps ensure an enhanced web development process and has several features. This CLI also helps developers by providing helpful comments that help them develop web solutions, and increase their productivity. Artisan, unlike other Command Line interface options can also schedule specific tasks, thereby enhancing the web development process even further.
Removing unnecessary plug-ins
It would be best to remove unnecessary plug-ins as they can hamper the flow of work. Laravel lets you remove the plug-ins without affecting the rest of the functions. Removing plug-ins help you ensure your website does not collect unnecessary data that might affect its efficiency.
Assets compilation
Compiling assets separately help you manage your data better. Laravel offers an in-built asset compilation package called Laravel Mix. Such packages are beneficial in storing different kinds of data in different folders or places and help you in the initial stages of web development. You need not worry about losing data, nor be confused about which data you need at the moment.
Use the Laravel Debugbar
Laravel has its own in-built debugging option. However, recent trends claim it would be best to use debugging packages like the Laravel Debugbar that helps the web developer receive important insights about their web solutions and the web development process. Developers can also use the Laravel Dusk, a browser testing software that is apt for various APIs and browser testing applications.
Using Eloquent ORM
Eloquent ORM is a unique Laravel feature that has a model for every database table. These models can actively interact with the database and perform various activities or functions. For instance, if a table is named ‘user’, this Laravel feature would look for a model named ‘User’.
Thus, developers must be very careful about following this naming convention. If not, it might lead to eloquent issues and affect your web development process. The naming convention set by Eloquent ORM is also helpful as it helps developers to clearly name different files according to the principles and develop web solutions faster.
Using migrations
Laravel has a unique feature called migrations that helps you share the application database’s schema. Migrations are efficient in controlling and managing your database. Thus, one can easily use Laravel migrations for creating databases instead of doing it manually. This Laravel feature not only reduces the workload on the developer, but also removes chances of human error.
Some of the key features of Laravel include a modular packaging system, several ways for accessing relational databases, and its orientation toward syntactic sugar.
One really important reason behind using Laravel is that the developers will experience a trouble-free syntax. Let’s analyze some features and benefits of Laravel Application development and understand how Laravel will rule the future to scale its way to become the best PHP framework.
Top Laravel Trends in Web Development 2022
The Laravel Ecosystem
- Vapor: Serverless Platform
- Forge: Server Management
- Envoyer: Zero Downtime Deployment
- Horizon: Queue Monitoring
- Nova: Administration Panel
- Echo: Realtime Events
- Lumen: Micro-Framework
- Homestead: Pre-Packaged Vagrant Box
- Spark: SaaS App Scaffolding
- Valet: Dev Environment for Macs
- Mix: Webpack Asset Compilation
- Cashier: Subscription Billing Integration
- Dusk: Browser Testing and Automation
- Passport: Painless OAuth2 Implementation
- Scout: Full-Text Search
- Socialite: OAuth Authentication
- Telescope: Debug Assistant
- Jetstream: App Scaffolding
Benefits of Laravel Application Development
Progressive and Scalable Framework
Laravel is a framework that grows with your business and helps you adjust with scalability. It is a progressive framework with a vast number of guides, video tutorials, a library of documentation to help grow your application in a systematic manner.
Similarly for expert developers, Laravel gives you robust tools for dependency injection, unit testing, queues, real-time events, and more. Laravel’s support for fast, distributed cache systems combined with the scalability of PHP, makes scalability seamless. It provides the ability to handle millions of requests per month easily.
Strong Developer Community
It is the community that makes a difference. Laravel takes pride in offering a robust and developer-friendly community spanning thousands of developers. Laravel developers have contributed extensively to the advancement of the framework.
Laravel is extensively used by the developer community to create market-leading websites. With such industry-wide acceptance, Laravel is a trusted framework for expert developers. Hence, it is quick, efficient, secure, and dependable.
Security
Laravel offers tools to implement authentication in a secure and easy manner for web applications, as well as built-in authentication and session services. The framework is safe and secure providing adequate security mechanisms to safeguard web apps from attacks or vulnerabilities.
Database
Interaction of web applications with a database is the need of the hour. Laravel simplifies interaction with databases. There are several databases supported using raw SQL, a fluent query builder, and the Eloquent ORM.
Laravel provides support for the following:
- MySQL 5.6+
- PostgreSQL 9.4
- SQLite 3.8.8+
- SQL Server 2017+
MVC (Model – View – Controller)
Laravel leverages the Model – View – Controller with equal advantage for both designers as well as developers. MVC used by Laravel helps decipher complex business logic as well as user interface code.
Object-oriented Library
Laravel has an object-oriented library that is exclusive and not available with several PHP frameworks. Further, the object-oriented library provides large data and heavy processing. This library also helps provide security functions including verifying the data.
Testing Environment
It enables the automated testing environment for highly accurate results compared to manual testing. Every developer wants to ensure impeccable standards for applications with performance devoid of bugs and glitches. The ultimate goal is delivering the best performance to the clients.
Laravel is built with testing to support testing best practices and testing with PHPUnit is included and a phpunit.xml file is right up for your application. The framework also ships with several important helper methods specifically aimed at testing your applications.
Finally
Laravel is simple to make an application using Laravel. The code is straightforward and easily readable. Do consider using Laravel with your next PHP application development.
