If you’ve been thinking on how to build a website or a web application, you’ve probably come across the word “Laravel” at some point. Maybe someone told you it’s a great tool for developers. Maybe you read that it’s a “PHP framework.” Or maybe you saw it mentioned in a developer’s portfolio and wondered, what on earth is Laravel and why is it so popular?
Well, let’s be honest: if you’re not already a developer, that explanation “it’s a PHP framework” – doesn’t really tell you much. It sounds technical and maybe a little intimidating. But don’t worry, you’re not alone! Most people outside the coding world have no idea what that actually means. And that’s totally okay.
So let’s take a step back and explain Laravel in a way that actually makes sense no complex tech talk, just real-life comparisons and clear explanations.
So let’s take a step back and explain Laravel in a way that actually makes sense—no complex tech talk, just real-life comparisons and clear explanations.
What is Laravel?
Laravel is a free, open-source PHP framework designed for building web applications using the MVC (Model-View-Controller) architectural pattern. It was created by Taylor Otwell and first released in 2011. Since then, Laravel has continued to grow in popularity due to its clean and expressive syntax, active community, and robust features.
Think of Laravel as a toolbox. Instead of writing complex code from scratch, Laravel provides ready-to-use tools, structures, and components that help developers build full-featured applications faster and more efficiently.
Now let’s put this into a real-world analogy.
Imagine you’re building a house. You could chop down trees, make your own bricks, and mix your own cement. That would take forever, and you’d have to be an expert in dozens of skills. Or you could use pre-made building materials, power tools, and follow a proven architectural design that speeds up the process and ensures the house is solid.
Laravel is like the power tools and architectural framework for building a web-based house (a.k.a. a website or web app). It doesn’t build the house for you, but it gives developers the structure and tools they need to do it efficiently, securely, and beautifully.
