Laravel Laravel
  • Prologue

    • Release Notes
    • Upgrade Guide
    • Contribution Guide
    • API Documentation
  • Setup

    • Installation
    • Configuration
    • Homestead
    • Valet
  • Tutorials

    • Basic Task List
    • Intermediate Task List
  • The Basics

    • Routing
    • Middleware
    • Controllers
    • Requests
    • Responses
    • Views
    • Blade Templates
  • Architecture Foundations

    • Request Lifecycle
    • Application Structure
    • Service Providers
    • Service Container
    • Contracts
    • Facades
  • Services

    • Authentication
    • Authorization
    • Artisan Console
    • Billing
    • Cache
    • Collections
    • Elixir
    • Encryption
    • Errors & Logging
    • Events
    • Filesystem / Cloud Storage
    • Hashing
    • Helpers
    • Localization
    • Mail
    • Package Development
    • Pagination
    • Queues
    • Redis
    • Session
    • SSH Tasks
    • Task Scheduling
    • Testing
    • Validation
  • Database

    • Getting Started
    • Query Builder
    • Migrations
    • Seeding
  • Eloquent ORM

    • Getting Started
    • Relationships
    • Collections
    • Mutators
    • Serialization

Helper Functions

  • Introduction
  • Available Methods

Introduction

Laravel includes a variety of "helper" PHP functions. Many of these functions are used by the framework itself; however, you are free to use them in your own applications if you find them convenient.

Available Methods

Arrays

array_add array_collapse array_divide array_dot array_except array_first array_flatten array_forget array_get array_has array_only array_pluck array_prepend array_pull array_set array_sort array_sort_recursive array_where head last

Paths

app_path base_path config_path database_path elixir public_path resource_path storage_path

Strings

camel_case class_basename e ends_with snake_case str_limit starts_with str_contains str_finish str_is str_plural str_random str_singular str_slug studly_case trans trans_choice

URLs

action asset secure_asset route url

Miscellaneous

auth back bcrypt collect config csrf_field csrf_token dd dispatch env event factory method_field old redirect request response session value view with

Method Listing

Arrays

array_add()

The array_add function adds a given key / value pair to the array if the given key doesn't already exist in the array:

$array = array_add(['name' => 'Desk'], 'price', 100);

// ['name' => 'Desk', 'price' => 100]

array_collapse()

The array_collapse function collapses an array of arrays into a single array:

$array = array_collapse([[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6], [7, 8, 9]]);

// [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]

array_divide()

The array_divide function returns two arrays, one containing the keys, and the other containing the values of the original array:

list($keys, $values) = array_divide(['name' => 'Desk']);

// $keys: ['name']

// $values: ['Desk']

array_dot()

The array_dot function flattens a multi-dimensional array into a single level array that uses "dot" notation to indicate depth:

$array = array_dot(['foo' => ['bar' => 'baz']]);

// ['foo.bar' => 'baz'];

array_except()

The array_except function removes the given key / value pairs from the array:

$array = ['name' => 'Desk', 'price' => 100];

$array = array_except($array, ['price']);

// ['name' => 'Desk']

array_first()

The array_first function returns the first element of an array passing a given truth test:

$array = [100, 200, 300];

$value = array_first($array, function ($key, $value) {
    return $value >= 150;
});

// 200

A default value may also be passed as the third parameter to the method. This value will be returned if no value passes the truth test:

$value = array_first($array, $callback, $default);

array_flatten()

The array_flatten function will flatten a multi-dimensional array into a single level.

$array = ['name' => 'Joe', 'languages' => ['PHP', 'Ruby']];

$array = array_flatten($array);

// ['Joe', 'PHP', 'Ruby'];

array_forget()

The array_forget function removes a given key / value pair from a deeply nested array using "dot" notation:

$array = ['products' => ['desk' => ['price' => 100]]];

array_forget($array, 'products.desk');

// ['products' => []]

array_get()

The array_get function retrieves a value from a deeply nested array using "dot" notation:

$array = ['products' => ['desk' => ['price' => 100]]];

$value = array_get($array, 'products.desk');

// ['price' => 100]

The array_get function also accepts a default value, which will be returned if the specific key is not found:

$value = array_get($array, 'names.john', 'default');

array_has()

The array_has function checks that a given item exists in an array using "dot" notation:

$array = ['products' => ['desk' => ['price' => 100]]];

$hasDesk = array_has($array, 'products.desk');

// true

array_only()

The array_only function will return only the specified key / value pairs from the given array:

$array = ['name' => 'Desk', 'price' => 100, 'orders' => 10];

$array = array_only($array, ['name', 'price']);

// ['name' => 'Desk', 'price' => 100]

array_pluck()

The array_pluck function will pluck a list of the given key / value pairs from the array:

$array = [
    ['developer' => ['id' => 1, 'name' => 'Taylor']],
    ['developer' => ['id' => 2, 'name' => 'Abigail']],
];

$array = array_pluck($array, 'developer.name');

// ['Taylor', 'Abigail'];

You may also specify how you wish the resulting list to be keyed:

$array = array_pluck($array, 'developer.name', 'developer.id');

// [1 => 'Taylor', 2 => 'Abigail'];

array_prepend()

The array_prepend function will push an item onto the beginning of an array:

$array = ['one', 'two', 'three', 'four'];

$array = array_prepend($array, 'zero');

// $array: ['zero', 'one', 'two', 'three', 'four']

array_pull()

The array_pull function returns and removes a key / value pair from the array:

$array = ['name' => 'Desk', 'price' => 100];

$name = array_pull($array, 'name');

// $name: Desk

// $array: ['price' => 100]

array_set()

The array_set function sets a value within a deeply nested array using "dot" notation:

$array = ['products' => ['desk' => ['price' => 100]]];

array_set($array, 'products.desk.price', 200);

// ['products' => ['desk' => ['price' => 200]]]

array_sort()

The array_sort function sorts the array by the results of the given Closure:

$array = [
    ['name' => 'Desk'],
    ['name' => 'Chair'],
];

$array = array_values(array_sort($array, function ($value) {
    return $value['name'];
}));

/*
    [
        ['name' => 'Chair'],
        ['name' => 'Desk'],
    ]
*/

array_sort_recursive()

The array_sort_recursive function recursively sorts the array using the sort function:

$array = [
    [
        'Roman',
        'Taylor',
        'Li',
    ],
    [
        'PHP',
        'Ruby',
        'JavaScript',
    ],
];

$array = array_sort_recursive($array);

/*
    [
        [
            'Li',
            'Roman',
            'Taylor',
        ],
        [
            'JavaScript',
            'PHP',
            'Ruby',
        ]
    ];
*/

array_where()

The array_where function filters the array using the given Closure:

$array = [100, '200', 300, '400', 500];

$array = array_where($array, function ($key, $value) {
    return is_string($value);
});

// [1 => 200, 3 => 400]

head()

The head function simply returns the first element in the given array:

$array = [100, 200, 300];

$first = head($array);

// 100

last()

The last function returns the last element in the given array:

$array = [100, 200, 300];

$last = last($array);

// 300

Paths

app_path()

The app_path function returns the fully qualified path to the app directory:

$path = app_path();

You may also use the app_path function to generate a fully qualified path to a given file relative to the application directory:

$path = app_path('Http/Controllers/Controller.php');

base_path()

The base_path function returns the fully qualified path to the project root:

$path = base_path();

You may also use the base_path function to generate a fully qualified path to a given file relative to the application directory:

$path = base_path('vendor/bin');

config_path()

The config_path function returns the fully qualified path to the application configuration directory:

$path = config_path();

database_path()

The database_path function returns the fully qualified path to the application's database directory:

$path = database_path();

elixir()

The elixir function gets the path to the versioned Elixir file:

elixir($file);

public_path()

The public_path function returns the fully qualified path to the public directory:

$path = public_path();

resource_path()

The resource_path function returns the fully qualified path to the resources directory:

$path = resource_path();

You may also use the resource_path function to generate a fully qualified path to a given file relative to the storage directory:

$path = resource_path('assets/sass/app.scss');

storage_path()

The storage_path function returns the fully qualified path to the storage directory:

$path = storage_path();

You may also use the storage_path function to generate a fully qualified path to a given file relative to the storage directory:

$path = storage_path('app/file.txt');

Strings

camel_case()

The camel_case function converts the given string to camelCase:

$camel = camel_case('foo_bar');

// fooBar

class_basename()

The class_basename returns the class name of the given class with the class' namespace removed:

$class = class_basename('Foo\Bar\Baz');

// Baz

e()

The e function runs htmlentities over the given string:

echo e('<html>foo</html>');

// &lt;html&gt;foo&lt;/html&gt;

ends_with()

The ends_with function determines if the given string ends with the given value:

$value = ends_with('This is my name', 'name');

// true

snake_case()

The snake_case function converts the given string to snake_case:

$snake = snake_case('fooBar');

// foo_bar

str_limit()

The str_limit function limits the number of characters in a string. The function accepts a string as its first argument and the maximum number of resulting characters as its second argument:

$value = str_limit('The PHP framework for web artisans.', 7);

// The PHP...

starts_with()

The starts_with function determines if the given string begins with the given value:

$value = starts_with('This is my name', 'This');

// true

str_contains()

The str_contains function determines if the given string contains the given value:

$value = str_contains('This is my name', 'my');

// true

str_finish()

The str_finish function adds a single instance of the given value to a string:

$string = str_finish('this/string', '/');

// this/string/

str_is()

The str_is function determines if a given string matches a given pattern. Asterisks may be used to indicate wildcards:

$value = str_is('foo*', 'foobar');

// true

$value = str_is('baz*', 'foobar');

// false

str_plural()

The str_plural function converts a string to its plural form. This function currently only supports the English language:

$plural = str_plural('car');

// cars

$plural = str_plural('child');

// children

You may provide an integer as a second argument to the function to retrieve the singular or plural form of the string:

$plural = str_plural('child', 2);

// children

$plural = str_plural('child', 1);

// child

str_random()

The str_random function generates a random string of the specified length:

$string = str_random(40);

str_singular()

The str_singular function converts a string to its singular form. This function currently only supports the English language:

$singular = str_singular('cars');

// car

str_slug()

The str_slug function generates a URL friendly "slug" from the given string:

$title = str_slug('Laravel 5 Framework', '-');

// laravel-5-framework

studly_case()

The studly_case function converts the given string to StudlyCase:

$value = studly_case('foo_bar');

// FooBar

trans()

The trans function translates the given language line using your localization files:

echo trans('validation.required'):

trans_choice()

The trans_choice function translates the given language line with inflection:

$value = trans_choice('foo.bar', $count);

URLs

action()

The action function generates a URL for the given controller action. You do not need to pass the full namespace to the controller. Instead, pass the controller class name relative to the App\Http\Controllers namespace:

$url = action('[email protected]');

If the method accepts route parameters, you may pass them as the second argument to the method:

$url = action('[email protected]', ['id' => 1]);

asset()

Generate a URL for an asset using the current scheme of the request (HTTP or HTTPS):

$url = asset('img/photo.jpg');

secure_asset()

Generate a URL for an asset using HTTPS:

echo secure_asset('foo/bar.zip', $title, $attributes = []);

route()

The route function generates a URL for the given named route:

$url = route('routeName');

If the route accepts parameters, you may pass them as the second argument to the method:

$url = route('routeName', ['id' => 1]);

url()

The url function generates a fully qualified URL to the given path:

echo url('user/profile');

echo url('user/profile', [1]);

If no path is provided, a Illuminate\Routing\UrlGenerator instance is returned:

echo url()->current();
echo url()->full();
echo url()->previous();

Miscellaneous

auth()

The auth function returns an authenticator instance. You may use it instead of the Auth facade for convenience:

$user = auth()->user();

back()

The back() function generates a redirect response to the user's previous location:

return back();

bcrypt()

The bcrypt function hashes the given value using Bcrypt. You may use it as an alternative to the Hash facade:

$password = bcrypt('my-secret-password');

collect()

The collect function creates a collection instance from the supplied items:

$collection = collect(['taylor', 'abigail']);

config()

The config function gets the value of a configuration variable. The configuration values may be accessed using "dot" syntax, which includes the name of the file and the option you wish to access. A default value may be specified and is returned if the configuration option does not exist:

$value = config('app.timezone');

$value = config('app.timezone', $default);

The config helper may also be used to set configuration variables at runtime by passing an array of key / value pairs:

config(['app.debug' => true]);

csrf_field()

The csrf_field function generates an HTML hidden input field containing the value of the CSRF token. For example, using Blade syntax:

{{ csrf_field() }}

csrf_token()

The csrf_token function retrieves the value of the current CSRF token:

$token = csrf_token();

dd()

The dd function dumps the given variable and ends execution of the script:

dd($value);

If you do not want to halt the execution of your script, use the dump function instead:

dump($value);

dispatch()

The dispatch function pushes a new job onto the Laravel job queue:

dispatch(new App\Jobs\SendEmails);

env()

The env function gets the value of an environment variable or returns a default value:

$env = env('APP_ENV');

// Return a default value if the variable doesn't exist...
$env = env('APP_ENV', 'production');

event()

The event function dispatches the given event to its listeners:

event(new UserRegistered($user));

factory()

The factory function creates a model factory builder for a given class, name, and amount. It can be used while testing or seeding:

$user = factory(App\User::class)->make();

method_field()

The method_field function generates an HTML hidden input field containing the spoofed value of the form's HTTP verb. For example, using Blade syntax:

<form method="POST">
    {{ method_field('DELETE') }}
</form>

old()

The old function retrieves an old input value flashed into the session:

$value = old('value');

$value = old('value', 'default');

redirect()

The redirect function returns an instance of the redirector to do redirects:

return redirect('/home');

request()

The request function returns the current request instance or obtains an input item:

$request = request();

$value = request('key', $default = null)

response()

The response function creates a response instance or obtains an instance of the response factory:

return response('Hello World', 200, $headers);

return response()->json(['foo' => 'bar'], 200, $headers);

session()

The session function may be used to get / set a session value:

$value = session('key');

You may set values by passing an array of key / value pairs to the function:

session(['chairs' => 7, 'instruments' => 3]);

The session store will be returned if no value is passed to the function:

$value = session()->get('key');

session()->put('key', $value);

value()

The value function's behavior will simply return the value it is given. However, if you pass a Closure to the function, the Closure will be executed then its result will be returned:

$value = value(function() { return 'bar'; });

view()

The view function retrieves a view instance:

return view('auth.login');

with()

The with function returns the value it is given. This function is primarily useful for method chaining where it would otherwise be impossible:

$value = with(new Foo)->work();

Become a Laravel Partner

Laravel Partners are elite shops providing top-notch Laravel development and consulting. Each of our partners can help you craft a beautiful, well-architected project.

Our Partners
Laravel
Highlights
  • Release Notes
  • Getting Started
  • Routing
  • Blade Templates
  • Authentication
  • Authorization
  • Artisan Console
  • Database
  • Eloquent ORM
  • Testing
Resources
  • Laracasts
  • Laravel News
  • Laracon
  • Laracon EU
  • Laracon AU
  • Jobs
  • Certification
  • Forums
Partners
  • Vehikl
  • Tighten Co.
  • Kirschbaum
  • Byte 5
  • 64Robots
  • Cubet
  • DevSquad
  • Ideil
  • Cyber-Duck
  • ABOUT YOU
  • Become A Partner
Ecosystem
  • Vapor
  • Forge
  • Envoyer
  • Horizon
  • Lumen
  • Nova
  • Echo
  • Valet
  • Mix
  • Spark
  • Cashier
  • Homestead
  • Dusk
  • Passport
  • Scout
  • Socialite
  • Telescope

Laravel is a web application framework with expressive, elegant syntax. We believe development must be an enjoyable and creative experience to be truly fulfilling. Laravel attempts to take the pain out of development by easing common tasks used in most web projects.

Laravel is a Trademark of Taylor Otwell.
Copyright © 2011-2019 Laravel LLC.

  • Twitter
  • GitHub
  • Discord
Laravel