If you have ever thought about developing websites, mobile apps, or any web-based software, you must have come across the term Laravel. Many developers prefer this framework because it offers an opinionated approach to developing web applications. This character means that you get to spend more time writing business logic and less time fiddling with low-level syntax and APIs.
This article covers the concept of Laravel Development, including its meaning, features, and how to get started.
Laravel is a PHP web application framework created by Taylor Otwell. The primary aim of Laravel is to facilitate web development projects for developers and non-developers alike. The framework strives to be lightweight and straightforward while providing all of the features that other more complex frameworks provide.
Using Laravel, developers can focus on writing their code instead of worrying about the server configuration or database schema. It provides tools such as migrations and Blade templates which help create and maintain database schemas. Laravel also includes built-in authentication and authorization support, allowing developers to control access to their applications easily.
Laravel is increasingly popular with developers nowadays because it’s easy to use, so even beginners can get started right away. All they need is a basic understanding of HTML and CSS, and they are ready to start building their first web app.
Modular Architecture
The modular architecture of Laravel allows for a flexible and extensible framework that developers can easily scale to meet the requirements of any application type. Laravel comprises independent, loosely coupled components that communicate through expressive, fluent APIs. These components are organized into four main layers: The command layer contains the core features and functionality provided by the framework. The event dispatcher layer handles the flow control and dispatching of events in the application. The request handler layer manages incoming HTTP requests and renders templates based on those requests. Finally, the model layer contains all the models and database tables that make up your application. By separating these responsibilities into distinct layers, developers can quickly develop, test, and deploy applications.
Automatic Routing
Laravel uses automatic routing, which means that when a request comes to your application, it is routed to the controller that matches it. Automatic routing only applies to the URLs in your application, so it won’t matter if the user goes to https://example.com/products/42 or https://example.com/p/42. What matters is that they end up at the same controller with the same template. By default, Laravel uses the URL matching rules from the App\Routing\RouteCollection class, which you can see in the example above. Adding custom rules in the App\Routing\RouteCollection class can change these URL rules. You can also change the order of the routes by adding a new route after another one.
Object-Oriented Codebase
Laravel utilizes an object-oriented codebase which makes it easier to extend or modify existing classes. An object-oriented codebase has a well-defined structure consisting of classes and objects. This type of codebase allows developers to create more robust applications, as each class can be used to represent a distinct concept. Furthermore, object-oriented codebases are easier to understand and maintain than their non-object-oriented counterparts. Because each class typically has a one-to-one relationship with another, it’s easy to see what each part of the code is responsible for.
Expressive Syntax
Laravel uses an expressive syntax which helps the code read like English and makes it more readable. It also has an auto-complete feature that provides suggestions at a fast speed, helping developers build quickly and avoid application bugs. These features — easy-to-use syntax and auto-complete — makes Laravel an ideal tool for programmers dealing with big data.
Authentication
Laravel has fine control over HTTP request methods, such as GET, POST, PUT or DELETE. The framework provides fine-grained control over these methods through middleware. This property makes it easy to customize how you handle requests. For example, you could have a custom controller action for POST requests while only allowing GET and HEAD requests to access protected resources.
Testability
Laravel has a robust testing feature. It provides a test/unit, test/integration, and test/functional. The first two are unit and model tests, respectively. The latter is designed to test the application’s functionality. Laravel also has a powerful assertion library that allows you to quickly check if your variables are equal to expected values
Even though Laravel is easy to learn, it can take considerable time to perfect your coding skills. It’s best to hire a Laravel development agency to maximize speed and efficiency when launching your business website. We can help you by providing the technical know-how and resources you need to create a successful application. When hiring a Laravel development agency, ensure you check their experience and expertise. It’s best to hire an agency that has done similar projects you want to implement. The best development agencies will have a portfolio on their website where you can see their past projects.