Helper Functions

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

array_collapsearray_dotarray_firstarray_forgetarray_hasarray_pluckarray_pullarray_sortarray_wherelast

base_pathdatabase_pathpublic_pathstorage_path

class_basenameends_withstr_limitstr_containsstr_isstr_randomstr_slugtrans

actionsecure_asseturl

backcollectcsrf_fieldddenvfactoryoldrequestsessionview

Arrays

array_add()

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

array_collapse()

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

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

  1. list($keys, $values) = array_divide(['name' => 'Desk']);
  3. // $keys: ['name']
  5. // $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:

  1. $array = array_dot(['foo' => ['bar' => 'baz']]);
  3. // ['foo.bar' => 'baz'];

array_except()

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

  1. $array = ['name' => 'Desk', 'price' => 100];
  3. $array = array_except($array, ['price']);
  5. // ['name' => 'Desk']

array_first()

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

  1. $array = [100, 200, 300];
  3. $value = array_first($array, function ($key, $value) {
  4.     return $value >= 150;
  5. });
  7. // 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:

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

array_flatten()

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

  1. $array = ['name' => 'Joe', 'languages' => ['PHP', 'Ruby']];
  3. $array = array_flatten($array);

array_forget()

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

  1. $array = ['products' => ['desk' => ['price' => 100]]];
  3. array_forget($array, 'products.desk');
  5. // ['products' => []]

array_get()

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

  1. $array = ['products' => ['desk' => ['price' => 100]]];
  3. $value = array_get($array, 'products.desk');
  5. // ['price' => 100]

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

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

array_has()

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

  1. $array = ['products' => ['desk' => ['price' => 100]]];
  3. $hasDesk = array_has($array, 'products.desk');
  5. // true

array_only()

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

  1. $array = ['name' => 'Desk', 'price' => 100, 'orders' => 10];
  3. $array = array_only($array, ['name', 'price']);
  5. // ['name' => 'Desk', 'price' => 100]

array_pluck()

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

  1. $array = [
  2.     ['developer' => ['id' => 1, 'name' => 'Taylor']],
  3.     ['developer' => ['id' => 2, 'name' => 'Abigail']],
  4. ];
  6. $array = array_pluck($array, 'developer.name');
  8. // ['Taylor', 'Abigail'];

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

  1. $array = array_pluck($array, 'developer.name', 'developer.id');
  3. // [1 => 'Taylor', 2 => 'Abigail'];

array_prepend()

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

  1. $array = ['one', 'two', 'three', 'four'];
  3. $array = array_prepend($array, 'zero');
  5. // $array: ['zero', 'one', 'two', 'three', 'four']

array_pull()

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

  1. $array = ['name' => 'Desk', 'price' => 100];
  3. $name = array_pull($array, 'name');
  5. // $name: Desk
  7. // $array: ['price' => 100]

array_set()

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

  1. $array = ['products' => ['desk' => ['price' => 100]]];
  3. array_set($array, 'products.desk.price', 200);
  5. // ['products' => ['desk' => ['price' => 200]]]

array_sort()

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

  1. $array = [
  2.     ['name' => 'Desk'],
  3.     ['name' => 'Chair'],
  4. ];
  6. $array = array_values(array_sort($array, function ($value) {
  7.     return $value['name'];
  8. }));
  10. /*
  11.     [
  12.         ['name' => 'Chair'],
  13.         ['name' => 'Desk'],
  14.     ]
  15. */

array_sort_recursive()

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

  1. $array = [
  2.     [
  3.         'Roman',
  4.         'Taylor',
  5.         'Li',
  7.     [
  8.         'PHP',
  9.         'Ruby',
  10.         'JavaScript',
  11.     ],
  12. ];
  14. $array = array_sort_recursive($array);
  16. /*
  17.     [
  18.         [
  19.             'Li',
  20.             'Roman',
  21.             'Taylor',
  22.         ],
  23.         [
  24.             'JavaScript',
  25.             'PHP',
  26.             'Ruby',
  27.         ]
  28.     ];
  29. */

array_where()

The array_where function filters the array using the given Closure:

  1. $array = [100, '200', 300, '400', 500];
  3. $array = array_where($array, function ($key, $value) {
  4.     return is_string($value);
  5. });
  7. // [1 => 200, 3 => 400]

head()

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

  1. $array = [100, 200, 300];
  3. $first = head($array);
  5. // 100

last()

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

  1. $array = [100, 200, 300];
  3. $last = last($array);
  5. // 300

app_path()

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

  1. $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:

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

base_path()

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

  1. $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:

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

config_path()

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

    database_path()

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

    elixir()

    The elixir function gets the path to the versioned file:

    1. elixir($file);

    public_path()

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

    1. $path = public_path();

    resource_path()

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

    1. $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:

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

    storage_path()

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

    1. $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:

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

    Strings

    camel_case()

    The camel_case function converts the given string to camelCase:

    1. $camel = camel_case('foo_bar');
    3. // fooBar

    class_basename()

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

    1. $class = class_basename('Foo\Bar\Baz');
    3. // Baz

    e()

    The e function runs htmlentities over the given string:

    1. echo e('<html>foo</html>');
    3. // &lt;html&gt;foo&lt;/html&gt;

    ends_with()

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

    1. $value = ends_with('This is my name', 'name');
    3. // true

    snake_case()

    The snake_case function converts the given string to snake_case:

    1. $snake = snake_case('fooBar');
    3. // 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:

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

    starts_with()

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

    1. $value = starts_with('This is my name', 'This');
    3. // true

    str_contains()

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

    1. $value = str_contains('This is my name', 'my');
    3. // true

    str_finish()

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

    1. $string = str_finish('this/string', '/');
    3. // this/string/

    str_is()

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

    1. $value = str_is('foo*', 'foobar');
    3. // true
    5. $value = str_is('baz*', 'foobar');

    str_plural()

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

    1. $plural = str_plural('car');
    3. // cars
    5. $plural = str_plural('child');
    7. // children

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

    1. $plural = str_plural('child', 2);
    3. // children
    5. $plural = str_plural('child', 1);
    7. // child

    str_random()

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

    1. $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:

    1. $singular = str_singular('cars');
    3. // car

    str_slug()

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

    1. $title = str_slug('Laravel 5 Framework', '-');
    3. // laravel-5-framework

    studly_case()

    The studly_case function converts the given string to StudlyCase:

    1. $value = studly_case('foo_bar');
    3. // FooBar

    trans()

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

    1. echo trans('validation.required'):

    trans_choice()

    The trans_choice function translates the given language line with inflection:

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

    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:

    1. $url = action('[email protected]');

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

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

    asset()

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

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

    secure_asset()

    Generate a URL for an asset using HTTPS:

    route()

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

    1. $url = route('routeName');

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

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

    url()

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

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

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

    1. echo url()->current();
    2. echo url()->full();
    3. echo url()->previous();

    Miscellaneous

    auth()

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

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

    back()

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

    1. return back();

    bcrypt()

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

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

    collect()

    The collect function creates a instance from the supplied items:

    1. $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:

    1. $value = config('app.timezone');
    3. $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:

    1. 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:

    1. {{ csrf_field() }}

    csrf_token()

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

    1. $token = csrf_token();

    dd()

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

    1. dd($value);

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

    1. dump($value);

    dispatch()

    The dispatch function pushes a new job onto the Laravel :

    1. dispatch(new App\Jobs\SendEmails);

    env()

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

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

    event()

    The event function dispatches the given event to its listeners:

    1. 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 or seeding:

    1. $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 :

    1. <form method="POST">
    2.     {{ method_field('DELETE') }}
    3. </form>

    old()

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

    1. $value = old('value');
    3. $value = old('value', 'default');

    redirect()

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

    1. return redirect('/home');

    request()

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

    1. $request = request();
    3. $value = request('key', $default = null)

    response()

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

    1. return response('Hello World', 200, $headers);
    3. return response()->json(['foo' => 'bar'], 200, $headers);

    session()

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

    1. $value = session('key');

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

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

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

    1. $value = session()->get('key');
    3. 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:

      view()

      The view function retrieves a view instance:

      with()

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

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