Laravel is a popular open-source PHP framework designed for building the backend of web applications. It follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern, providing a structured and efficient approach to developing both small-scale and complex applications. Laravel application development framework is known for its elegant syntax and focus on simplicity, making it a favorite in the tech stack of custom web app development services.

If PHP developers performing custom Laravel development were to answer the question posed in the title, their response would likely be "yes". According to the Stack Overflow survey from 2024, the Laravel framework is admired by 56,4% of developers. Moreover, 2,162 respondents currently using Laravel, unlike many other frameworks, wouldn't want to switch to another technology, which means it's very convenient for programmers. Similar results are shown in the comparative charts from the State of Laravel platform, where 71% of developers strongly agreed they enjoyed working with the framework. In this article, we'll try to articulate Laravel's position in custom software development, its features, and its potential.

Laravel framework usage stats

PHP is among the top 15 programming languages and is preferred by 18.2% of respondents. The technology possesses numerous benefits for web development. However, PHP and its framework Laravel don't take first place in the ranking of the most popular technologies. This is not because they are worse or less effective than others but rather because PHP is used solely for backend web development. Developers prefer building both backend and frontend using a single language, which is usually JavaScript. However, statistics within the PHP programming language show Laravel among the top technologies, highly favored by the programming community.

Thus, the latest JetBrains research summarizing the state of PHP in 2024, revealed once again that Laravel framework takes first place as the most preferred among PHP frameworks and platforms. Its percentage has been unbeatable over the years compared to other technologies.

Reasons to choose Laravel

The main reason for this, as our software development team also acknowledges, is its syntax, which allows us to build robust web application architectures, and its ready-made packages for common web development features, which speeds up the process. Laravel is also the youngest, and, therefore, it addresses many issues and optimizes many processes compared to existing frameworks.

There are other factors influencing developer happiness with Laravel web application development and Ronas IT choice of building projects with this framework.

Comprehensive ecosystem

Laravel framework has a rich ecosystem that includes powerful tools and packages. For instance, Laravel Forge and Envoyer support server management and deployment, and Laravel Nova provides an admin panel builder. Additionally, the framework's ecosystem integrates seamlessly with front-end frameworks like Vue.js, React, and Angular, allowing for full-stack custom Laravel development.

Built-in features and tools

Laravel comes with a wide range of built-in features such as Eloquent ORM for database interactions, Blade templating engine, RESTful routing, authentication, and more. These tools help speed up the Laravel web application development process and reduce the need for boilerplate code.

Security

Laravel framework includes several security features out of the box, such as protection against SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and cross-site request forgery (CSRF). This emphasis on security assures developers of a solid foundation when building custom Laravel solutions.

Artisan console

Laravel's command-line interface, Artisan, provides a set of helpful commands for routine tasks. It can be used for database migrations, seeding, generating boilerplate code, and more, which helps speed up the Laravel development process.

Strong community and support

Laravel has a large and active community, making it easy to find tutorials, packages, and forums to assist with development. The strong community support ensures that developers have access to resources and assistance when solving problems. Thanks to the community, the framework has many ready solutions for accelerated Laravel software development, such as Laravel Nova (our favourite for building admin panels), Laravel Pint, Laravel Telescope, Laravel Pulse, and more.

MVC architecture

Laravel development adheres to the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern, which helps separate logic from presentation. This separation makes the code more organized and easier to maintain or extend.

Database migration system

Laravel offers a robust migration system to version control relational database schema alongside the application code. It provides the Laravel development team a straightforward method to manage database changes, rollbacks, and deployments.

Advanced caching

Laravel framework provides built-in support for multiple caching systems, which helps improve application performance by reducing load times and minimizing server load.

Testability

Laravel is built with testing in mind, offering support for PHPUnit out of the box. It allows developers to write unit tests, feature tests, and integrate testing seamlessly into their development process, enhancing code quality and reliability.

Continuous improvement

The framework is actively maintained and regularly updated with new features, enhancements, and security fixes. This active Laravel development ensures that it remains relevant to current development standards and practices.

Benefits of custom Laravel web development

Laravel's web application development capabilities made it favorite both for startups and such large organizations like Pfizer, Liberty Mutual Insurance, and BBC. Above, we discussed reasons why PHP engineers prefer to work with Laravel, however, what are the benefits for the businesses choosing it for their web products? The key points to opt for the custom Laravel development service would be:

Fast development process

Laravel framework stands out in custom web development because it speeds up the coding process and allows engineers to focus on building unique features rather than developing basic functionality from scratch. The framework provides a robust set of built-in functionalities, such as authentication, routing, and session management. Additionally, Laravel's elegant syntax and well-organized structure make it easy for developers to create, maintain, and scale custom applications. This approach not only saves time but also results in more reliable and maintainable code, which is vital for custom web development projects that evolve over time as the business running the web application grows.

Example

One of Ronas IT's favorite Laravel application development cases is OddsCrowd, a social platform for the community of bettors. This project needed to be completed within four months, just in time for the Super Bowl. It was a complex task that required multiple integrations, as the platform deals with various sources for games and must be updated in real-time to provide bettors with the latest ratings, sports updates, and other betting actions. Thanks to the Laravel framework, we built the server-side of the project and with our experience in it, our team managed to complete the development ahead of the deadline. The OddsCrowd web platform has been operational for over five years, and we maintain our collaboration through ongoing support and maintenance services.

Flexibility and extensibility

The framework is designed to be highly modular, allowing developers to extend its capabilities through a vast ecosystem of packages and libraries. Whether you need to integrate third-party APIs, add specialized functionality, or customize built-in features, Laravel's architecture supports these needs with ease. The use of service containers and providers allows developers to wire up and manage disparate parts of an application effectively. Laravel's support for object-relational mapping (ORM) through Eloquent further enhances its ability to handle complex, dynamic database interactions. This flexibility enables developers to tailor applications to meet specific business requirements, making sure that the final product meets project goals and is future-proofed for evolving needs.

Example

Choosing custom Laravel development for the server side of the app allowed the Ronas IT team to create a project with a scalable architecture that combines different roles and functionalities under the umbrella of laundry services. The Hamperapp team was originally aiming to enlarge their client base with an app, and building server-side with Laravel was a perfect choice due to its scalability. After the app's launch in 2023, Hamperapp's user base grew to over 3000 active users.

Cost-effective development

Laravel's status as an open-source framework means there are no licensing fees, which reduces upfront costs. Additionally, Laravel's robust ecosystem of pre-built packages and functionalities allows development teams to complete projects faster, decreasing labor costs and shortening time-to-market. The framework's modular architecture means it's easier to scale and add features as the business grows, allowing for flexibility in both current and future custom Laravel development. Furthermore, Laravel's focus on clean, maintainable code minimizes ongoing maintenance expenses and technical debt. This combination of reduced initial expenses, efficient software development processes, and lower long-term maintenance makes Laravel development a smart financial choice for businesses pursuing custom web development.

Example

Laravel offers many solutions for sped up development. One of Ronas IT's favorites is the Laravel Nova package which allows us to create feature-rich admin panels rapidly. In the UK Retreats project for uploading new stays, we integrated an administration dashboard using Laravel Nova. It allowed UK Retreats to add all necessary information such as photos, descriptions, locations, and tags, and avoid extra expenses on developing such a functionality from zero. The project developed 850+ users in the first month after launch and keeps running. We also developed web admin panels with Laravel Nova for such projects as the Noah marketplace app.

Laravel news and updates

The Laravel team and community continuously enhance the framework, enabling developers to work more efficiently and provide their clients with faster, more innovative Laravel web development services.

New starter kits in Laravel 12

Laravel 12, launched in February, introduces:

New starter kits. Laravel 12, released in February, offers exciting new starter kits to boost development speed. These kits provide customizable options, letting developers start from scratch or choose a pre-configured tech stack (React, Vue, or Livewire with Shadcn components). A free Flux component version is included for Livewire users. Importantly, the code for these kits is openly accessible via their GitHub repositories, granting complete control and transparency. While there are no breaking changes requiring immediate upgrades, migrating from versions older than Laravel 11 is recommended; Laravel Shift can automate this process smoothly.

Laravel Playwright

The Laravel Playwright package, announced by Paul Redmond, is designed to simplify the process of testing Laravel applications using Playwright, a popular end-to-end testing tool. It provides all the necessary boilerplate to quickly set up and begin testing, including Laravel-specific helpers and an example test specification to guide a dedicated Laravel developer in writing their tests.

Installation is streamlined, requiring just a few commands with a preferred Node package manager or Composer, making it accessible to both beginners and experienced Laravel developers. Notably, it automates configuration tasks and includes a sample test for immediate use. However, as the package is still in development, users need to set their project's stability to "dev" when installing. For installation details and further information, users are directed to the GitHub repository.

Feature for pagination

Pagination is a technique used in web development to divide a large set of data or content into smaller, more manageable sections or pages. This approach improves user experience by preventing overwhelming amounts of information from being displayed at once and is particularly useful for lists or tables with many items, like search results, product listings, or blog posts.

Laravel's fragment() method enhances pagination by adding URL fragments, like #section, to pagination links. This helps guide users to specific parts of a webpage as they move through pages.

By using ->fragment('users') in a query, paginated URLs will include #users, directing visitors smoothly to that section.

It's especially helpful for sites with multiple sections or complex navigation, keeping users in the right spot as they browse. Laravel handles adding these fragments automatically, maintaining user orientation throughout their browsing experience.

Artisan benchmark package

Artisan is a command-line tool included in Laravel, used for performing various tasks like database migrations and running jobs.

Laravel has rolled out the Artisan Benchmark, which is a package created by Laravel developer Christoph Rumpel to measure how efficiently the Artisan commands run. It provides details such as how long a command takes, the memory it uses, the number of SQL queries, and how many database rows are affected.

Laravel Cloud

In August 2024 at Laracon US, Taylor Otwell announced the Laravel Cloud planned to release in early 2025. Its new app platform allows for instant deployment of Laravel applications in less than 60 seconds.

Compared to its predecessors, Laravel Cloud provides a fully managed service where the platform handles infrastructure, maintenance, and optimization tasks for you. In contrast, Laravel Forge and Vapor are self-managed tools, guiding you to set up and configure infrastructure using third-party services like AWS or DigitalOcean, leaving you with the responsibility of maintenance and management.

Ronas IT contribution, driving Laravel evolution

According to the Laravel Developers Report 2025, Europe is the top destination for finding experienced Laravel developers, and is home to the largest community of Laravel engineers worldwide at 42%. Based in Estonia, Ronas IT Laravel web development company is an integral part of this thriving community.

Facing challenges working on custom Laravel development projects, we observed some parts of Laravel could be improved for better operability and sped up task completion. Therefore, we made our contribution, which results are available as open source on GitHub. Among Ronas IT enhancements made for our Laravel web development services are:

Laravel entity generator

GitHub link: https://github.com/RonasIT/laravel-entity-generator

Laravel Entity Generator enhances software development speed and consistency by automating the process of creating standard class stacks for new entities. This means that without needing to manually write a lot of repetitive code, developers can quickly set up the necessary components for new features or parts of an application.

The tool generates everything from database migrations and models to controllers and API endpoints, ensuring that the project's architecture remains uniform. This is crucial for maintaining and scaling applications because it reduces errors, ensures best practices are followed, and makes it easier for teams to collaborate. As a Laravel development company, we often need to add new features or expand database schema for our clients projects long-run, and this tool helps streamline those tasks with efficiency and accuracy, saving time and minimizing the potential for mistakes. Additionally, the generator's flexibility means that it can be tailored to the specific needs of custom Laravel solutions, allowing developers to select exactly which parts of an entity they need to create, further enhancing productivity.

Laravel project initializator

GitHub link: https://github.com/RonasIT/laravel-project-initializator

The Laravel Project Initializator is a tool that simplifies the often tedious and repetitive process of setting up a new project, allowing a web development company team to focus more on writing the actual application features rather than spending time on initial configurations. It's a way to quickly lay out the groundwork needed for developers to start building a digital product.

By running a simple command, this tool takes care of important preliminary tasks such as configuring necessary settings, installing essential components, and creating a helpful guide for the project. It asks a few questions about the project's needs and then handles the technical setup automatically. Once everything is ready, the tool cleans up after itself by removing any unnecessary parts, ensuring the project remains organized and ready for Laravel application development. This allows developers to shift their focus directly to building the application rather than getting bogged down by setup details.

Laravel swagger

GitHub link: https://github.com/RonasIT/laravel-swagger

The Laravel Swagger plugin is a tool that helps developers automatically generate documentation for their web application's API. This plugin works by running tests that simulate the use of the API, then generates clear and organized documentation based on those tests. This process ensures that the documentation accurately reflects how the API is supposed to function, increasing reliability and usability. Installation involves adding the plugin to your project and configuring a few settings, so it integrates seamlessly with your existing testing process. Developers can then annotate code with additional information to provide more context in the documentation.

The end result is a professional and accurate set of instructions and details about the web service, which can be essential for developers working on the application or external parties who need to interact with it. By automating documentation generation, the Laravel Swagger plugin saves time and reduces the chances of errors that manual documentation might introduce.

Laravel media

GitHub link: https://github.com/RonasIT/laravel-media

The Laravel Media plugin is a versatile tool that enhances any Laravel application by providing comprehensive media file management capabilities. Upon installation, the plugin automatically sets up essential routes for processing and managing media files, making it easy for a Laravel development company team to implement features like file uploads and deletions.

Additionally, it offers customization options, allowing developers to register only the necessary routes your project requires, ensuring a tailored fit for custom Laravel solutions. This flexibility is complemented by its integration with OpenAPI documentation, which makes it easier for developers to understand and use the media functionalities within their projects. By simplifying complex media management tasks, the Laravel Media plugin allows a web development company to focus on building and enhancing application features, knowing that media handling is securely and efficiently managed in the background.

Laravel helpers

GitHub link: https://github.com/RonasIT/laravel-helpers

Laravel Helpers are a suite of tools designed to simplify and enhance the experience of building applications with the Laravel framework. They cater to various aspects of application development by offering utility Functions, Iterators, Services, and Traits. These components work together to address common software development challenges, such as data manipulation, file handling, and efficient data processing.

Functions offer ready-made solutions for everyday tasks, like rounding numbers or finding duplicates in arrays, without having to repeat code writing.

Iterators allow for the efficient processing of large files or database queries, ensuring that applications can handle extensive data sets without performance hits.

Services provide streamlined methods for making web requests or managing database entities, simplifying what would otherwise be complex operations.

Traits introduce reusable methods that standardize coding practices, improve code maintainability, and speed up development.

Together, these Helpers offer a robust set of tools that make Laravel development more efficient, organized, and accessible — even for those who are just familiarizing themselves with programming concepts.

Laravel empty project template

GitHub link: https://github.com/RonasIT/laravel-empty-project

To start off the project faster, we developed a template which allows engineers to quickly set up a basic Laravel project using Docker, which helps to keep a software development environment consistent and isolated from others. By using this template, a Laravel development company team can avoid the hassle of initial setup and configuration, as it comes with a pre-configured file structure, necessary tools, and supports multiple environments such as local, development, and testing.

Once you've cloned the repository and set it up with Docker, you can begin developing your web application right away, confident that your setup matches that of your team, reducing the chances of "it works on my machine" issues. This setup also includes functionalities for generating API documentation and running tests, ensuring that your project is ready for development from the get-go.

Conclusion

Laravel continues to hold a strong position in the web development arena, with a promising future beyond 2025. Its popularity is bolstered by high satisfaction ratings among developers who appreciate its elegant syntax, comprehensive ecosystem, and streamlined development processes. Laravel's flexibility and cost-effectiveness make it an attractive choice for businesses seeking custom solutions. The launch of Laravel Cloud and enhancements like PHP-based integrations suggest Laravel's future may involve expanded services and greater ease in deploying applications, potentially increasing adoption across diverse development environments.

As an active contributor to the Laravel community, Ronas IT is well-equipped to leverage the strengths of the framework to deliver custom solutions through our Laravel web development services. If you'd like to explore the potential of partnering with Ronas IT to get a reliable web application tailored to your evolving business goals, simply fill out the form below.