Laravel 12 Tutorial for Beginners

Welcome to the first part of our comprehensive Laravel 12 tutorial series! In this guide, we’ll build a complete Task Management application from scratch. By the end of this series, you’ll have a fully functional web application with user authentication, CRUD operations, file uploads, and more.

But before we dive into coding, we need to set up our development environment properly. This tutorial will walk you through every step of installing Laravel 12 and preparing your system for development.

What You’ll Learn in This Tutorial

Understanding Laravel’s system requirements
Installing PHP, Composer, and Node.js
Creating your first Laravel 12 project
Configuring your database
Understanding Laravel’s project structure
Running your development server

Prerequisites

This tutorial assumes you have:

Basic understanding of PHP programming
Familiarity with command-line interfaces
A computer running Windows, macOS, or Linux
Willingness to learn and experiment

Don’t worry if you’re not an expert! We’ll explain everything step by step.

What is Laravel?

Laravel is a powerful PHP framework that makes web development enjoyable and creative. It follows the MVC (Model-View-Controller) pattern and provides elegant syntax that’s easy to understand. Laravel handles common tasks like routing, authentication, sessions, and caching, allowing you to focus on building amazing applications.

Why Choose Laravel 12?

Laravel 12, the latest release, introduces several improvements, including better performance, enhanced developer experience, and updated dependencies. It’s the perfect framework for beginners because of its excellent documentation and supportive community.

System Requirements

Before installing Laravel 12, ensure your system meets these requirements:

PHP: Version 8.3 or higher
Composer: Latest version
Database: MySQL 5.7+, PostgreSQL 10+, SQLite 3.8+, or SQL Server 2017+
Node.js: Version 18 or higher (for frontend assets)
NPM: Version 9 or higher

Step 1: Installing PHP

PHP is the foundation of Laravel. Let’s install it based on your operating system.

For Windows Users

Download XAMPP or Laragon (recommended for Laravel development):
- XAMPP: Visit https://www.apachefriends.org
- Laragon: Visit https://laragon.org (lighter and faster)
Install Laragon (Recommended):
- Download the latest Laragon Full version
- Run the installer and follow the installation wizard
- Laragon includes PHP 8.3, MySQL, and other necessary tools
Verify PHP installation: php -v You should see output similar to: PHP 8.3.x (cli) (built: ...)

For macOS Users

The easiest way to install PHP on macOS is using Homebrew:

Install Homebrew (if not already installed): /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
Install PHP 8.3: brew install php@8.3
Link PHP to make it accessible: brew link php@8.3
Verify installation: php -v

For Linux Users (Ubuntu/Debian)

Update package list: sudo apt update
Install PHP 8.3 and required extensions: sudo apt install php8.3 php8.3-cli php8.3-common php8.3-mysql php8.3-xml php8.3-curl php8.3-mbstring php8.3-zip php8.3-gd
Verify installation: php -v

Step 2: Installing Composer

Composer is PHP’s dependency manager. Laravel uses Composer to manage its packages and dependencies.

Installing Composer on All Platforms

Visit https://getcomposer.org/download/
For Windows:
- Download and run Composer-Setup.exe
- Follow the installation wizard
- The installer will automatically detect your PHP installation
For macOS/Linux: php -r "copy('https://getcomposer.org/installer', 'composer-setup.php');" php composer-setup.php php -r "unlink('composer-setup.php');" sudo mv composer.phar /usr/local/bin/composer
Verify Composer installation: composer --version Expected output: Composer version 2.x.x

Step 3: Installing Node.js and NPM

Node.js and NPM are required for compiling frontend assets (CSS, JavaScript) in Laravel.

For All Platforms

Visit https://nodejs.org
Download the LTS (Long Term Support) version
Run the installer and follow the setup wizard
Verify installation: node -v npm -v

Pro Tip: If you work with multiple Node versions, consider using NVM (Node Version Manager) instead.

Step 4: Installing a Database (MySQL)

Laravel needs a database to store application data. We’ll use MySQL for this tutorial.

For Windows (Using Laragon)

If you installed Laragon, MySQL is already included! Skip to verification.

For Windows (Using XAMPP)

MySQL comes bundled with XAMPP. Just start the MySQL service from the XAMPP control panel.

For macOS

brew install mysql
brew services start mysql

For Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

sudo apt install mysql-server
sudo systemctl start mysql
sudo mysql_secure_installation

Verify MySQL Installation

mysql --version

Step 5: Creating Your First Laravel 12 Project

Now comes the exciting part! Let’s create your first Laravel project.

Method 1: Using Composer (Recommended)

Open your terminal or command prompt
Navigate to where you want to create your project: cd C:/laragon/www # Windows (Laragon) cd ~/Sites # macOS cd ~/projects # Linux
Create a new Laravel project named “task-manager”: composer create-project laravel/laravel task-manager This command will:
- Download Laravel and all its dependenciesSet up the basic project structureGenerate an application keyCreate configuration files
Note: This process may take 2-5 minutes, depending on your internet connection.

Method 2: Using Laravel Installer (Alternative)

Install the Laravel installer globally: composer global require laravel/installer
Create a new project: laravel new task-manager

[Screenshot placeholder: Terminal showing project creation process]

Step 6: Understanding Laravel’s Project Structure

Once installation is complete, navigate into your project:

cd task-manager

Let’s explore the key directories and files:

task-manager/
├── app/                  # Application core code
│   ├── Http/
│   │   ├── Controllers/  # Your application controllers
│   │   └── Middleware/   # HTTP middleware
│   ├── Models/           # Eloquent models (database)
│   └── Providers/        # Service providers
├── bootstrap/            # Framework bootstrap files
├── config/              # Configuration files
├── database/
│   ├── migrations/      # Database migrations
│   ├── seeders/         # Database seeders
│   └── factories/       # Model factories
├── public/              # Publicly accessible files
│   └── index.php        # Application entry point
├── resources/
│   ├── views/           # Blade templates
│   ├── css/             # CSS files
│   └── js/              # JavaScript files
├── routes/
│   ├── web.php          # Web routes
│   └── api.php          # API routes
├── storage/             # Compiled files, logs, cache
├── tests/               # Automated tests
├── vendor/              # Composer dependencies
├── .env                 # Environment configuration
├── artisan              # Command-line tool
├── composer.json        # PHP dependencies
└── package.json         # Node dependencies

Key Files to Know

.env – Environment variables (database credentials, app settings)
artisan – Laravel’s command-line tool
composer.json – PHP package dependencies
routes/web.php – Where you define your web routes

Step 7: Configuring Your Environment

Laravel uses a .env file to store environment-specific configuration. Let’s set it up.

1. Open the .env File

Located in your project root, open .env in your favorite code editor (VS Code, Sublime Text, PHPStorm, etc.).

2. Configure Application Settings

APP_NAME="Task Manager"
APP_ENV=local
APP_KEY=base64:...  # Already generated
APP_DEBUG=true
APP_URL=http://localhost:8000

3. Configure Database Connection

Update these lines to match your database setup:

DB_CONNECTION=mysql
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
DB_PORT=3306
DB_DATABASE=task_manager
DB_USERNAME=root
DB_PASSWORD=

For Laragon users: The password is usually empty.
For XAMPP users: The password is usually empty.
For macOS/Linux: Use the password you set during MySQL installation.

Step 8: Creating Your Database

Before running Laravel, we need to create the database.

Using MySQL Command Line

Access MySQL: mysql -u root -p
Create the database: CREATE DATABASE task_manager; EXIT;

Using phpMyAdmin

If you’re using XAMPP or Laragon:

Open your browser and go to http://localhost/phpmyadmin
Click “New” in the left sidebar
Enter task_manager as the database name
Click “Create”

Step 9: Running Database Migrations

Laravel includes some default migrations. Let’s run them to create initial tables.

php artisan migrate

You should see output like:

Migration table created successfully.
Migrating: 2014_10_12_000000_create_users_table
Migrated:  2014_10_12_000000_create_users_table
Migrating: 2014_10_12_100000_create_password_resets_table
Migrated:  2014_10_12_100000_create_password_resets_table
...

This creates essential tables like users, password_resets, and others.

Step 10: Starting the Development Server

Let’s see your Laravel application in action!

php artisan serve

You should see:

INFO  Server running on [http://127.0.0.1:8000].

Press Ctrl+C to stop the server

Accessing Your Application

Open your web browser and visit: http://localhost:8000

You should see Laravel’s beautiful welcome page!

Common Port Issues

If port 8000 is already in use, you can specify a different port:

php artisan serve --port=8080

Step 11: Installing Frontend Dependencies

Laravel uses Vite for compiling frontend assets. Let’s set that up.

Install Node dependencies: npm install
Run the development server: npm run dev

Keep this running in a separate terminal window while developing.

Verifying Your Installation

Let’s make sure everything is working correctly.

Check PHP Version

php -v

Expected: PHP 8.3.x or higher

Check Composer

composer --version

Expected: Composer version 2.x.x

Check Node & NPM

node -v
npm -v

Expected: Node v18.x or higher, NPM v9.x or higher

Check Laravel Installation

php artisan --version

Expected: Laravel Framework 12.x.x

Check Database Connection

php artisan migrate:status

This shows all migrations and their status.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue 1: “php command not found”

Solution: PHP is not in your system PATH.

Windows: Restart your computer after installing Laragon/XAMPP
macOS/Linux: Add PHP to your PATH in .bashrc or .zshrc

Issue 2: “composer command not found”

Solution: Composer is not globally installed.

Reinstall Composer and ensure “Add to PATH” is checked (Windows)
For macOS/Linux, move composer.phar to /usr/local/bin/

Issue 3: Database Connection Error

Solution: Check your .env file:

Verify database name matches what you created
Check username and password
Ensure MySQL service is running

Issue 4: Port 8000 Already in Use

Solution: Use a different port:

php artisan serve --port=8080

Issue 5: Permission Errors (Linux/macOS)

Solution: Set proper permissions:

sudo chmod -R 775 storage bootstrap/cache
sudo chown -R $USER:www-data storage bootstrap/cache

Best Practices for Development Environment

1. Use a Code Editor with Laravel Support

Recommended editors:

VS Code with Laravel Extension Pack
PHPStorm (paid, but excellent Laravel support)
Sublime Text with Laravel packages

2. Use Version Control

Initialize Git in your project:

git init
git add .
git commit -m "Initial Laravel 12 installation"

3. Keep Dependencies Updated

Regularly update your dependencies:

composer update
npm update

4. Use Laravel Debugbar (Optional but Helpful)

Install for better debugging during development:

composer require barryvdh/laravel-debugbar --dev

Understanding Artisan Commands

Artisan is Laravel’s command-line interface. Here are essential commands you’ll use frequently:

# List all available commands
php artisan list

# Clear application cache
php artisan cache:clear

# Clear configuration cache
php artisan config:clear

# Create a new controller
php artisan make:controller TaskController

# Create a new model
php artisan make:model Task

# Create a migration
php artisan make:migration create_tasks_table

# Run migrations
php artisan migrate

# Rollback last migration
php artisan migrate:rollback

# Start development server
php artisan serve

# Enter tinker (Laravel REPL)
php artisan tinker

What’s Next?

Congratulations! You’ve successfully set up your Laravel 12 development environment and created your first Laravel project. Your development environment is now ready for building the Task Manager application.

In Part 2 of this series, we’ll cover:

Setting up user authentication with Laravel Breeze
Creating database migrations for our tasks table
Understanding Eloquent ORM and models
Building relationships between users and tasks
Testing authentication functionality

Quick Recap

In this tutorial, you learned:

How to install PHP, Composer, and Node.js
How to create a new Laravel 12 project
Understanding Laravel’s project structure
Configuring your environment and database
Running migrations and starting the development server
Essential Artisan commands for development

Additional Resources

Official Laravel Documentation: https://laravel.com/docs/12.x
Laracasts: https://laracasts.com (Free Laravel video tutorials)
Laravel News: https://laravel-news.com
Laravel Community: https://laracasts.com/discuss

Need Help?

If you encounter any issues during setup, feel free to:

Check the official Laravel documentation
Ask questions in the comments below
Join Laravel communities on Discord or Reddit
Review the troubleshooting section above

Ready for Part 2? Follow next in this series: Authentication and Database Setup .