How to connect to MySQL database in Laravel

Introduction
Basic Configuration
Creating a Model and Migration
Interacting with the Database
Advanced Usage
Conclusion

Introduction

When working with Laravel, a robust PHP framework, a common task is connecting to a MySQL database to handle data persistence. Laravel makes this process straightforward with its built-in ORM, Eloquent, and database utilities. This tutorial will guide you through the steps of setting up a MySQL connection in a Laravel application, with a focus on practical examples and best practices.

Prerequisites

Laravel installation
MySQL database server
Basic understanding of PHP and Laravel

Basic Configuration

Start by configuring your .env file at the root of your Laravel project with your MySQL database information:

DB_CONNECTION=mysql
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
DB_PORT=3306
DB_DATABASE=your_database
DB_USERNAME=your_username
DB_PASSWORD=your_password

With the environment variables is set, check your config/database.php to ensure Laravel uses these variables for database connections:

'mysql' => [
    'driver' => 'mysql',
    'url' => env('DATABASE_URL'),
    'host' => env('DB_HOST', '127.0.0.1'),
    'port' => env('DB_PORT', '3306'),
    'database' => env('DB_DATABASE', 'forge'),
    'username' => env('DB_USERNAME', 'forge'),
    'password' => env('DB_PASSWORD', ''),
    // ...Additional configuration
],

Creating a Model and Migration

To interact with the database, you’ll need a corresponding Eloquent model. Let’s create a model for a table named products:

php artisan make:model Product -m

This command generates a model and a database migration file where you can define the table schema:

public function up()
{
    Schema::create('products', function (Blueprint $table) {
        $table->id();
        $table->string('name');
        $table->decimal('price', 8, 2);
        $table->timestamps();
    });
}

Run the migration with the command below to create the table in your MySQL database:

php artisan migrate

Interacting with the Database

To add a new product, first ensure your Product model has the fillable or guarded attributes set, and then use Eloquent to insert data:

use App\Models\Product;

$product = new Product;
$product->name = 'Amazing Widget';
$product->price = 99.99;
$product->save();

To retrieve data, use the following:

$products = Product::all();

The $products variable will hold a Collection of Product models returned from the database.

Advanced Usage

You can also use the Laravel Query Builder for more complex queries:

$expensiveProducts = DB::table('products')
    ->where('price', '>', 100)
    ->get();

This will retrieve products with a price greater than 100. Don’t forget to import the DB facade at the top of your PHP file:

use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;

Conclusion

In conclusion, connecting to a MySQL database in Laravel is a simple and efficient process. By correctly setting your configuration files and utilizing Laravel’s Eloquent and Query Builder, you can easily interact with your data.

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