Laravel is a cross-platform PHP framework that’s super handy for building web applications. It’s open-source and has all the tools you’d find in PHP frameworks like CodeIgniter and Yii, plus other programming languages like Ruby on Rails.
With its performance, scalability, and rich functionality, Laravel is a top choice for both small and large projects. It offers customizable features, allowing developers to write expressive and self-explanatory code with its elegant syntax.
Is Laravel frontend or backend?
Laravel is all about the backend. To dive a bit deeper, it’s a fantastic server-side PHP framework that lets you create full-stack applications. By full-stack, we mean web apps with all the features that usually call for a solid backend, like user accounts, exports, order management, and much more.
A Brief History of Laravel
Back in 2011, Codeigniter was all the rage when it came to PHP frameworks. It was popular because it had a low learning curve and solid documentation. Web developers loved it and used it to build all sorts of projects. However, there was a bit of a problem. Codeigniter didn’t have some of the essential features that were needed for tasks like user authorization and authentication.
That’s where Taylor Otwell created Laravel. He saw the gap in the market and decided to create an alternative framework that would fill the void left by Codeigniter.
And so, the Laravel framework was born! With Laravel, developers had access to all the features they needed to create powerful and secure applications, and it quickly became a favorite among the developer community.
The Features of Laravel
Laravel includes several essential built-in features that enable developers to create web applications.
Here are the features that PHP developers love about Laravel:
MVC Architecture
Laravel embraces the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern, which brings structure and scalability to web application development. With MVC, developers can create well-organized and maintainable codebases for apps of any size.
By following the MVC approach, Laravel enables efficient development. Multiple developers can work simultaneously on different components—views and controllers—resulting in a faster development process. The framework also supports multiple views for a model and ensures code duplication is minimized by separating business logic from presentation logic.
Authentication and Authorization
Implementing user authentication and authorization in Laravel is incredibly easy. The framework provides built-in authentication scaffolding, password reset functionality, and seamless support for role-based permissions and access control.
With Laravel, you can set up authentication and authorization for your web app with just a few Artisan commands. The framework offers reliable and robust out-of-the-box solutions, saving you time and effort in implementing these crucial security features.
Artisan Command Line Interface (CLI)
Laravel’s Artisan CLI is a built-in command-line tool designed to handle repetitive programming tasks that would otherwise require manual intervention.
With the help of Laravel’s Artisan CLI, web development becomes a breeze. This powerful command-line tool offers features like code generation and efficient database management, all just a few commands away. Instead of getting bogged down by writing repetitive boilerplate code or manually setting up a database, developers can focus on crafting the app’s logic and functionality.
Eloquent Object-Relational Mapper (ORM)
Included within the Laravel framework is Eloquent, an impressive ORM that simplifies database management.
Eloquent offers a simple and straightforward way to interact with a database. In Laravel, each database table has an associated model, allowing developers to interact with the table easily. With Eloquent, not only can you retrieve records from a table, but you can also insert, update, and delete records using an Eloquent model.
Blade Template Engine
Blade, the PHP templating engine provided by Laravel, is a valuable tool for creating dynamic and reusable views. It offers a range of features, including template inheritance, control structures, and seamless integration of PHP code within HTML.
Blade plays a crucial role in Laravel and helps maintain a clear separation between business logic and HTML templating. Unlike other templating engines, Blade stands out by allowing the use of plain PHP code alongside its unique features.
Object Oriented Libraries
Laravel’s popularity is due in part to its inclusion of object-oriented and pre-installed libraries that are not found in other PHP frameworks. Its authentication library, for example, offers features such as password reset, active user monitoring, Bcrypt hashing, and CSRF protection. The framework is also modular and follows PHP principles, making it easy for developers to build responsive and modular applications.
Why Use Laravel PHP Framework for Web Development?
With all of its key features, Laravel is an excellent choice for web development.
Web developers prefer the peace of mind in developing a website or web application, knowing that protective measures are in place, essential code libraries are included, and the development process is optimized.
Laravel is the ultimate solution. This popular open-source PHP framework excels in web applications due to its comprehensive suite of features, including authentication, authorization, modularity, and extensive code libraries.
If you need more convincing, here’s why:
- Developing apps with it is a fast and easy process
- It serves as a functional core that can be extended with ease
- The routing process is straightforward.
- It provides a proper unit for conducting tests independently of the framework.
- Long-term tasks can be executed with the assistance of the async queue.
- The database layer is highly efficient for users.
- It facilitates a seamless integration process with third-party libraries.
The Pros of Using Laravel
Building a Laravel application offers you several advantages over other frameworks. Here are the advantages of using the Laravel framework for developing web applications:
Everything is simple
Laravel was created with the intention of streamlining common tasks in any web development project, including routing, authentication, migration, caching, and more. It offers intuitive and expressive command line interfaces and Composer integration, making incorporating pre-made modules into applications easy.
Highly scalable
This popular PHP framework is designed for high scalability. It includes integrated support for fast and distributed cache systems that enable Laravel applications to handle millions of requests per month.
Moreover, Laravel offers a serverless deployment platform, Vapor, which is based on AWS and enables high scalability.
Provides tools to beginners and experts
Laravel is considered a progressive framework that offers functionality suitable for all user levels. Novices can use starter kits for basic authentication features. Advanced users, on the other hand, can use the underlying engines to develop their authentication processes and integrate them with their preferred frontends.
There is a large Laravel community
Laravel, an open-source PHP framework, boasts a vibrant ecosystem supported by a large community of developers. Users can access official Laravel packages covering various areas like authentication, server management, subscription billing services, browser testing, and more.
Additionally, this developer community provides a wealth of information and support. Various resources, including Laravel.io, The Laravel subreddit, and Laracasts, offer forums where developers can seek answers to their questions and engage in discussions.
The Cons of Using Laravel
Not every web app requires the full feature-set Laravel offers. Depending on your project needs, it may be better to use an alternative. Here are a few disadvantages of using Laravel:
It’s a lightweight framework
While the Laravel framework is renowned for its comprehensive range of built-in features aimed at simplifying web development, it is often considered a lightweight web application framework when compared to others. Although it can fully construct robust and expansive web applications, the development process may require more effort and can be perceived as somewhat laborious.
Updates are frequent
Laravel’s frequent updates are a positive aspect, ensuring continuous improvement. However, one downside is that older versions of the framework may experience more bugs over time. Additionally, web developers may encounter challenges when updating to newer versions of the software.
Lack of technical talents
Laravel may be easy to learn but hard to master. Even though it has a lot of basic features, it can be deceptive to think that it is a simple framework. Unfortunately, many developers overestimate their understanding of Laravel, leading to a scarcity of highly skilled experts in the field.
Tips to Hire the Right Laravel Developers
Starting a new Laravel project can be challenging and stressful. But with the right developers with the right skill set, you can build an effective and robust web application.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when hiring developers with Laravel experience:
Check the developer’s portfolio
Be sure to look through the developer’s portfolios and review their past projects. This will give you an indication of their experience in using other frameworks that are similar to Laravel, like Symfony, CodeIgniter, and Django.
Prepare a simple test
This is an effective way to test the developer’s technical skills and problem-solving abilities. It will also give you a chance to see how they handle deadlines and work with code.
Hire from offshore companies
You can always outsource the project if you have difficulty finding local developers. An offshore company will be able to provide a team of experienced Laravel developers that fits your requirements and budget.
Hire Laravel Developers at StarTechUP!
If you want to develop a Laravel application, we are here to help!
At StarTechUP, we have a team of experienced developers who are skilled in using Laravel. We guarantee the quality of our work and ensure that your project is delivered on time.
Contact us today to get started on your Laravel project! We look forward to hearing from you.
