Let’s be honest — Laravel has spoiled us developers. With its elegant syntax, powerful tools, and strong community, it’s no surprise it remains one of the most loved PHP frameworks out there.
But whether you're new to Laravel or have been using it for years, there are always small gems hidden in the framework that can make your life easier.
So, here are 5 Laravel tips you might not know — but definitely should.
1. Use artisan tinker to Experiment and Test on the Fly
One of the most underrated but powerful tools in Laravel is the Tinker command.
With Tinker, you can interact with your application’s models and database from the command line in real-time. Need to test a query, create a record, or debug a relationship? Do it here.
It’s a playground for developers. Fast, convenient, and zero boilerplate.
2. Use Eager Loading to Prevent N+1 Query Problems
Laravel’s Eloquent is magical, but with great magic comes great responsibility. If you’re not careful, it can silently perform hundreds of queries (a classic N+1 problem).
Instead of doing this:
Use eager loading:
It fetches all necessary data in just two queries. Your app will be significantly faster and more efficient.
3. Use Route Model Binding for Cleaner Controllers
Laravel allows automatic resolution of models in your routes.
Instead of writing:
Just bind the model:
It’s cleaner, reduces boilerplate, and Laravel will automatically throw a 404 if the model isn’t found.
4. Use Laravel Debugbar or Telescope for Better Debugging
Need insight into what your app is doing behind the scenes?
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Laravel Debugbar shows queries, views, routes, and more — directly in your browser.
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Laravel Telescope is Laravel’s official debugging assistant — it's like Laravel Debugbar on steroids.
Having the right debug tools can save hours of guesswork and help you optimize faster.
5. Use Custom Blade Components for Reusability
Tired of copying and pasting the same HTML structure in your Blade views?
Define Blade components like this:
This will create a new component you can reuse:
Cleaner views, reusable code, and less duplication. Plus, they support slots for dynamic content. Huge win for maintainability.
Final Thoughts
Laravel is full of thoughtful features that are designed to make your life as a developer better — but only if you know about them!
From using Tinker and eager loading to customizing Blade components and leveraging debugging tools, these five tips will help you write better, cleaner, and more efficient Laravel applications.
Already knew some of these? Awesome. Hopefully, you picked up at least one new trick. If you’ve got a favorite Laravel tip not mentioned here, drop it in the comments or tweet it at us. Let’s keep learning together!
