Laravel is one of the most popular PHP frameworks used to build modern, secure, and scalable web applications.
It follows the MVC architecture and provides powerful features like routing, authentication, database migrations, and built-in security.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to install Laravel step by step using the recommended methods.
Prerequisites for Installing Laravel
Before installing Laravel, make sure your system has the following:
- PHP (version 8.1 or higher recommended)
- Composer
- Web server (Apache / Nginx)
- Database (MySQL / MariaDB)
Check PHP Version
php -v
Step 1: Install Composer
Composer is required to install Laravel and manage dependencies.
Download Composer
php -r "copy('https://getcomposer.org/installer', 'composer-setup.php');"
Install Composer Globally
php composer-setup.php --install-dir=/usr/local/bin --filename=composer
Verify installation:
composer -V
Step 2: Install Laravel Using Composer
Create a New Laravel Project
composer create-project laravel/laravel myapp
This command:
- Downloads Laravel
- Installs dependencies
- Sets up the project structure
Move into the project:
cd myapp
Step 3: Set File Permissions
Ensure Laravel can write to required directories:
chmod -R 775 storage bootstrap/cache
Step 4: Configure Environment File
Laravel uses a .env file for configuration.
Copy Environment File
cp .env.example .env
Generate Application Key
php artisan key:generate
Step 5: Configure Database
Edit .env file:
DB_DATABASE=myapp_db
DB_USERNAME=myapp_user
DB_PASSWORD=your_password
Run migrations:
php artisan migrate
Step 6: Run Laravel Development Server
Start the built-in server:
php artisan serve
Open in browser:
http://127.0.0.1:8000
You should see the Laravel welcome page 🎉
Alternative Method: Install Laravel Installer
You can also install Laravel globally.
composer global require laravel/installer
Create a new project:
laravel new myapp
Common Issues & Fixes
1. Composer Not Found
export PATH="$HOME/.composer/vendor/bin:$PATH"
2. Permission Errors
sudo chown -R $USER:www-data .
3. PHP Extensions Missing
Install required extensions:
php-mbstring php-xml php-curl php-zip
Why Choose Laravel?
Laravel is popular because it offers:
- Clean and readable syntax
- Built-in security features
- Easy database handling
- Large community support
- Excellent documentation
It’s suitable for small projects, startups, and enterprise applications.
Final Thoughts
Installing Laravel is straightforward when your environment is properly configured.
With Laravel, you can build modern PHP applications faster and more efficiently.
If you’re new to PHP frameworks, Laravel is an excellent place to start.
