Laravel is one of the most popular PHP frameworks, known for its elegant syntax and robust features. While Laravel makes development faster and easier, following best practices to ensure code quality and security is crucial. In this blog, with examples, we'll discuss some of the best practices to follow while coding in Laravel.

1. Use Laravel's built-in functions and libraries

Laravel has many built-in functions and libraries that can make development faster and more secure. For example, Laravel's Query Builder can be used to write database queries without worrying about SQL injection attacks. Let's take an example:

Instead of writing a SQL query like this:

We can use Laravel's Query Builder like this:

This way, we can prevent SQL injection attacks and make our code more secure.

2. Follow the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture

Laravel follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture, which separates the application logic into three parts: Model, View, and Controller. This separation of concerns makes the code more maintainable and scalable. Let's take an example:

We have a model called User that interacts with the database:

A controller called UserController that interacts with the User model:

And a view called index.blade.php that displays the list of users:

By following the MVC architecture, we can keep the code organized and make it more maintainable.

3. Use Laravel's Authentication and Authorization features

Laravel has built-in Authentication and Authorization features that can make user management easier and more secure. Let's take an example:

To create an authenticated route, we can use the auth middleware:

To create an authorized route, we can use the can middleware:

By using Laravel's Authentication and Authorization features, we can make our code more secure and prevent unauthorized access.

4. Use Laravel's Validation rules

Laravel has built-in Validation rules that can make form validation easier and more secure. Let's take an example:

To validate a form field called email, we can use the email validation rule:

By using Laravel's Validation rules, we can prevent form submission with invalid data and make our code more secure.

5. Use Laravel's CSRF protection

Laravel has built-in CSRF protection that can prevent Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks. Let's take an example:

To add CSRF protection to a form, we can add the @csrf directive:

By using Laravel's CSRF protection, we can prevent CSRF attacks and make our code more secure.

Are you looking to learn Laravel, but feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information out there? Fear not, my friend! In this blog, we're going to take a lighthearted and fun approach to discussing the roadmap to learning Laravel.

First, let's start with the basics. Laravel is a PHP framework used to build web applications. It's known for its elegant syntax, robust features, and built-in libraries. But where do you begin?

1. Start with PHP fundamentals

Before diving into Laravel, it's essential to have a solid understanding of PHP fundamentals. Understanding the basics of PHP will make learning Laravel much more manageable. You can learn PHP online, through books or by attending PHP courses.

2. Learn the basics of Laravel

Once you have a solid understanding of PHP fundamentals, it's time to dive into Laravel. Start by learning the basics of Laravel, including routing, views, controllers, models, and migrations. There are plenty of online tutorials, books, and courses that can help you learn Laravel basics.

3. Practice, practice, practice

The more you practice, the better you will become. Practice building small applications and experiment with Laravel's features. Try to build a blog, a simple e-commerce application or a todo app to solidify your understanding of Laravel's fundamentals.

4. Use Laravel Documentation

The official Laravel documentation is one of the best resources for learning Laravel. It's comprehensive and covers everything from getting started to advanced features. Make sure to read through the documentation and refer to it as you're building applications.

5. Join Laravel community

Join the Laravel community to get help, ask questions, and share your experiences. The Laravel community is very active and friendly, with many resources available such as Slack, Discord, Reddit, and forums. You can also attend Laravel events or meetups to meet fellow Laravel enthusiasts.

6. Follow best practices

Follow best practices to ensure code quality and security. Use Laravel's built-in functions and libraries, follow the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture, use Laravel's Authentication and Authorization features, use Laravel's Validation rules, and use Laravel's CSRF protection. These practices will help you write robust and secure code.

Now that we've covered the roadmap, let's talk about some fun resources to learn Laravel.

1. Laracasts

Laravel 9, the latest version of the popular PHP framework, was released in February 2021. It comes with various new features and improvements, making it easier and faster for developers to build web applications. In this blog, we'll go through the steps of installing Laravel 9 on your local machine.

Before we start, make sure you have the following prerequisites installed:

• PHP 7.4 or higher
• Composer
• Apache or Nginx web server

Step 1: Install Composer