Laravel commands a 39% share of the PHP framework market, boasting over 180 million downloads on Packagist. Enterprises and startups alike continue to embrace it, with around 40% of technology-driven companies relying on Laravel to power their products. Its vibrant community support keeps it at the forefront.

While mastering Laravel is important for PHP developers, it's beneficial to be aware of advancements in other web development frameworks.

In brief:

• Following PHP Standards Recommendations (PSR) standards and the "Fat Models, Skinny Controllers" approach enhances code maintainability.
• Using the latest Laravel features improves security, performance, and developer experience.
• Implementing strong security measures protects applications from common vulnerabilities.
• Optimizing performance through caching, database tuning, and CDNs enhances user satisfaction.

Laravel Coding Best Practices

1. PSR Compliance: A Key Best Practice

Sticking to PHP Standards Recommendations (PSR) brings clarity and consistency to your code.

PSR-2 lays out style guidelines like 4-space indentation, opening braces on the same line as declarations, and keeping lines under 80 characters. This keeps your code neat and readable. PSR-4 defines how to autoload classes based on their file paths and namespaces, preventing errors and making scaling easier.

Example composer.json snippet:

1{
2    "autoload": {
3        "psr-4": {
4        "App\\": "app/"
5        }
6    }
7}

Following these standards ensures a clean project structure and makes onboarding smoother. Check out PSR-2 and PSR-4 for the details.

2. Fat Models, Skinny Controllers

One of the key Laravel best practices is the “Fat Models, Skinny Controllers” approach, which keeps each part of the MVC architecture focused on its core responsibility. Business logic and database queries live in models, while controllers handle HTTP requests and call model methods.

Poor example:

1public function index()
2{
3    $clients = Client::verified()
4        ->with(['orders' => function ($q) {
5            $q->where('created_at', '>', Carbon::today()->subWeek());
6        }])
7        ->get();
8
9    return view('index', ['clients' => $clients]);
10}

Improved example:

1public function index()
2{
3    return view('index', ['clients' => $this->client->getWithNewOrders()]);
4}
5
6class Client extends Model
7{
8    public function getWithNewOrders()
9    {
10        return $this->verified()
11            ->with(['orders' => function ($q) {
12                $q->where('created_at', '>', Carbon::today()->subWeek());
13            }])
14            ->get();
15    }
16}

This structure enhances maintainability and clarity. Always validate and sanitize inputs to guard against SQL injection. For more on safe database operations, see this guide.

3. Embracing the Latest Version

Using the latest Laravel version ensures you have the latest security patches and benefit from updated tooling. Laravel 9.x, for instance, offers a redesigned route list that simplifies navigation in complex applications. Or the most recent Laravel 11.x which includes improvements to the application structure, rate limiting, and health routing. Laravel 11.x also includes a new WebSocket server called Laravel Reverb.

Regular updates also minimize vulnerabilities, like those found in CVE-2021-43617, and maintain compatibility with community packages. Similarly, for developers working with headless CMS solutions, staying updated is crucial.

For example, those using Strapi should be familiar with the End of The Road for Strapi v3 guide, which provides resources and tools like Codemods, a CLI for migration, and data migration scripts to assist with migrating from Strapi v3 to v4. Or the Strapi v4 helper-plugin, which has been removed from Strapi 5.

4. Using Built-in Features like Artisan CLI and Eloquent ORM

Artisan CLI automates repetitive tasks, boosting your productivity. Commands like:

• php artisan config:cache
• php artisan route:cache

Cache configurations and routes, reducing overhead during requests. For tips on maximizing Artisan, Aglowid IT Solutions has valuable insights.

Eloquent ORM offers a straightforward way to handle database interactions. Implementing relationships, CRUD operations, and efficient queries becomes more manageable, saving you time compared to writing raw SQL.

5. Enforcing SSL, HTTPS, and Strong Credentials

Implementing SSL and enforcing HTTPS ensures that data between user browsers and your server stays encrypted. Let’s Encrypt provides free SSL certificates, and adding a snippet like this in AppServiceProvider can secure traffic:

1public function boot()
2{
3    if (config('app.env') === 'production') {
4        \URL::forceScheme('https');
5    }
6}

Using strong passwords and verifying them through services like Have I Been Pwned helps prevent credential-related breaches. Two-factor authentication (2FA) via Laravel Jetstream adds another layer of security.

###6. Input Validation and Protection Against Vulnerabilities

Laravel’s validation system defends against SQL injection, XSS, and CSRF attacks. Form Request classes let you accept only the data you intend to, and $request->validated() ensures inputs meet your defined criteria. Laravel also generates tokens for CSRF protection automatically, blocking unauthorized actions within a user’s session.

7. Advanced Security Measures

Adding multi-factor authentication (MFA), implementing rate limiting with ThrottleRequests, and conducting regular application audits strengthen your defenses. Content Security Policy (CSP) headers restrict which external resources can load, countering XSS attacks. For a deeper dive into security strategies, check out 12 Top Security Best Practices for Your Laravel Application.

Laravel Performance Optimization

A snappy application keeps users engaged and scales more effectively.

Effective Cache Management and Image Optimization

Configuration caching combines config files into one, and query caching avoids repeating database calls over short intervals:

php artisan config:cache
php artisan config:clear

1$users = Cache::remember('users', 600, function () {
2    return DB::table('users')->get();
3});

Compressing and converting images to modern formats reduces file sizes. Packages like Intervention/Image handle resizing, while spatie/laravel-image-optimizer automates deeper optimization.

Database Optimization Techniques

Eager loading tackles the N+1 problem by fetching related data upfront:

1$users = User::with('posts')->get();

Selective retrieval minimizes unnecessary fields, and indexing frequently queried columns speeds up lookups:

1Schema::table('users', function ($table) {
2    $table->index('email');
3});

For more ideas, see Optimizing Laravel Applications for Scalability and Performance.

Using CDNs for Enhanced Performance

Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) like Cloudflare or Amazon Cloudfront serve static assets from servers closer to users, improving load times. This also eases the load on your main server, enhancing overall responsiveness.

Maintaining Code Cleanliness and Database Hygiene in Laravel

Careful management of code and databases reduces complexity in large projects. Migrations act as version control for your schema, helping you track and roll back changes smoothly. You can find more details here.

Combining migrations with a version control system like Git logs every update. This approach simplifies collaboration, maintains an accurate history, and makes it safer to revert mistakes. LoadForge Guides offers additional perspectives on writing maintainable code.

Regular Backups and Admin Access Restrictions

Automating Backups

Automated backups keep your data recoverable after attacks or hardware failures. The Spatie Laravel Backup package is a reliable way to schedule and manage these snapshots, reducing downtime when issues arise.

Implementing Access Control Measures

Admin access should be tightly controlled with robust authorization checks. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) ensures each user operates within specific permissions, preventing unauthorized actions. The OWASP Top 10 highlights the importance of strict access control, helping you defend against major web application threats.

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Conclusion

Laravel's strength lies in sensible coding patterns, built-in features like Artisan and Eloquent, and a developer community that's always pushing forward. Security measures such as SSL, validation rules, and strict authorization keep your application safe, while performance tactics like caching and CDNs improve responsiveness. Tracking database changes with migrations and using version control lead to a clear, maintainable codebase. These practices pave the way for reliable, modern applications that meet the complex demands of web development.

With Strapi, you can find the perfect plan for your business needs, regardless of which option you opt for. Let us help you achieve unmatched performance and flexibility with our headless CMS solutions.