What is Laravel and How does it work? MVC overview

What is Laravel?

Laravel is a powerful PHP framework built on MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture. It is commonly used to develop complex Web Applications. Laravel helps developers create a secure, scalable web solution with an MVC structure. It is a scalable framework with a large, global community of developers. A framework provides a solid structure and a starting point for building applications. It enhances the developer experience by offering powerful features through dependency management. Laravel is a Full Stack Framework, That helps a developer create Full Stack Applications from front-end to back-end. In this article, we will answer the question, What is Laravel and how does it work? an MVC overview of how Laravel helps in web development.

What is Laravel and How does it work? An MVC Overview

Laravel works by organizing and handling the different components of your web application in a smooth and structured way. It utilizes MVC architecture to handle requests, routes, templates, data, and more, offering a streamlined experience for developers. Here is a step-by-step guide on what is Laravel and how it works:

Step 1. Handles Requests
 

When a user visits a webpage or submits a form, Laravel processes the request using an MVC structure and decides what to do next.

Step 2.Routes Traffic
 

Laravel uses "routes" to determine what happens when a user visits a specific URL. For example, visiting /about could load an "About Us" page.

Step 3. Manages Data
 

Laravel Laravel stores and retrieves data by connecting to databases using its Eloquent ORM (Object-Relational Mapping).

 

Step 4. Templates Views
 

 Laravel’s Blade templating engine allows developers to build dynamic pages, such as displaying user data on a profile page.
 

Step 5. Secures the App
 

 Laravel includes built-in security features to protect against common attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).

 

Why choose Laravel?

So, why would you choose what is Laravel over other frameworks? Here are the reasons for choosing Laravel: 

1. Fast Development

Laravel's pre-built technologies, including routing, authentication, and session management, help developers save time.

2. Readable Code

Laravel's syntax is straightforward and expressive, which makes it easy to develop and maintain code.

3. Powerful Features

Laravel is suitable for large-scale applications with features like task scheduling, email integration, and caching.

4. Security

Laravel provides strong security against common threats like SQL injection, XSS, and CSRF attacks.

5. Community Support

Laravel has a large, active community and extensive documentation, making it easy to get help and find resources.
 

Why Use Laravel Over WordPress?

Laravel and WordPress are popular, yet they're created for distinct reasons.

Laravel

• Customization: Laravel is perfect for building bespoke web apps and APIs. You have full control over the design and functionality.
   
• Clean Code: Laravel's MVC design makes code more structured and manageable.
   
• Scalability: Laravel is best suited to big, complicated applications that may expand over time.

WordPress

• Ease of Use: WordPress is ideal for basic websites, particularly blogs and small commercial sites.
   
• Pre-Built Plugins: WordPress offers dozens of plugins, but it is less versatile when it comes to adding unique functionality.

Why Choose Laravel?

If you want total flexibility, scalability, and a well-structured codebase, Laravel is the best option. WordPress is simpler for non-developers or projects that require less customization.

Related topics you may enjoy:  How can I learn CodeIgniter?

How to Get Started with Laravel

Now that you understand what is Laravel and how it works, here’s a step-by-step guide to starting with Laravel:

1. Install PHP and Composer

Laravel works on PHP, so make sure it's installed. To install Laravel, use Composer, PHP's dependency management.

Install on Windows

• Download and install PHP from php.net.
   
• Install Composer from getcomposer.org. 

Install on Linux (Ubuntu)

2. Install Laravel

Run the following command to create a new Laravel project:

Visit http://localhost:8000 on your browser to look at the default Laravel page.

3. Explore Laravel’s Structure

• Routes: Configure URLs and their functionality in routes/web.php.
   
• Controllers: Manage the logic under app/Http/Controllers.
   
• Views: Make user-facing pages under resources/views.
   
• Models: Handle database interactions in the app/Models.

4. Build Your First Feature

• Add a new route in web.php:

• Visit http://localhost:8000/hello to see your message.

  
   

An Mvc Overview of Architecture in Lravel

To understand Laravel more, we need to learn about the MVC (Model-View-Controller) structure.MVC (Model-View-Controller) is a common design pattern in modern web application frameworks. It divides the entire application into three main components:

Model: Responsible for interacting with the database and managing the application's data.

View: The user interface, which displays everything that the user sees on the screen.

Controller: Acts as the bridge between the Model and the View, containing the application's business logic. It is often referred to as the "heart of the application" in the MVC architecture.

Model:

This component of the MVC framework handles the data used in your application. It helps to retrieve the data from the database and then perform the necessary operations, and then save the results back into the database.

In simple words, the Model manages the data that is passed between the database and the User Interface (View).

View:

The View is the User Interface (UI) component that defines the structure and layout of the data presented to the user view component contains the code responsible for displaying data on the user interface in the browser. It defines the structure and layout of how the data is presented to the user. For example, elements like buttons, text boxes, dropdown menus, and other interactive widgets on the browser screen are part of the View component.

Controller:

The controller component interacts with the Model to retrieve data from the database and then passes that data to the view to display the desired output on the user's browser. Similarly, when the user submits data, the Controller processes the input, performs any necessary operations, and either updates or inserts the data into the database through the Model.

Why MVC?

MVC is primarily used to separate application code into three key components: the user interface, the data, and the controlling logic. This separation makes it easier for developers to maintain and organize code, ultimately making the development process smoother.

Advantages of MVC

1. Organizes Large-Scale Web Applications

2. Easier Modification.

3 .isolation of changes

4. faster development process.

5. Support Asynchronous Method Invocation.

FAQs

Can I learn Laravel without PHP?

Not really. Laravel is built on PHP, thus basic PHP knowledge is required. However, Laravel's syntax is simple for beginners, and you can learn both PHP and Laravel concurrently.

How Long Does it Take To Learn Laravel?

With some basic PHP experience, you can master the principles of Laravel in a few weeks. Mastery might take many months, depending on your work and the project's complexity.

What Can I Create With Laravel?

• E-commerce Websites
   
• Content Management Systems (CMS)
   
• APIs for mobile applications
   
• Social networks
   
• Job portals

Do I need a database to use Laravel?

While Laravel is typically used with databases such as MySQL or PostgreSQL, it is possible to construct apps without one for simple use cases.

Conclusion

Laravel is a sturdy, flexible, and person-pleasant framework for growing current online packages. Whether or not you are operating on a small task or a big company machine, Laravel gives the equipment and framework to make development faster, more secure, and more great. Now that you understand what is Laravel and how it works, with an MVC overview you can start exploring how it can improve your web development workflow.