How to Create Custom Helper Functions in Laravel 11?

Hi, Dev

In this tutorial, I will demonstrate how to craft personalized helper functions within a Laravel 11 application.

While Laravel 11 does furnish helper functions catering to arrays, URLs, routes, paths, and more, occasions arise where bespoke helper functions tailored to specific project requirements become necessary. In such instances, crafting custom helper files equipped with global functions proves invaluable. Here's how you can fashion your own functions seamlessly:

Step for Laravel 11 Create Helper Functions Example

Step 1: Install Laravel 11

Step 2: Create helpers.php File

Step 3: Register File Path In composer.json File

Step 4: Add Route

Run Laravel App

Step 1: Install Laravel 11

This step is not required; however, if you have not created the Laravel app, then you may go ahead and execute the below command:

composer create-project laravel/laravel example-app

Step 2: Create helpers.php File

In this step, you need to create `app/Helpers/helpers.php` in your Laravel project and place the following code in that file:

app/Helpers/helpers.php

<?php
   
use Carbon\Carbon;
  
/**
 * Write code on Method
 *
 * @return response()
 */
if (! function_exists('convertYmdToMdy')) {
    function convertYmdToMdy($date)
    {
        return Carbon::createFromFormat('Y-m-d', $date)->format('m-d-Y');
    }
}
  
/**
 * Write code on Method
 *
 * @return response()
 */
if (! function_exists('convertMdyToYmd')) {
    function convertMdyToYmd($date)
    {
        return Carbon::createFromFormat('m-d-Y', $date)->format('Y-m-d');
    }
}

Step 3: Register File Path In composer.json File

In this step, you have to put the path of the helpers file. So, basically, open the `composer.json` file and put the following code in that file:

composer.json

...
  
    "autoload": {
        "psr-4": {
            "App\\": "app/",
            "Database\\Factories\\": "database/factories/",
            "Database\\Seeders\\": "database/seeders/"
        },
        "files": [
            "app/Helpers/helpers.php"
        ]
    },
  
...

After registering, we need to run the composer autoload command so that it loads our helper file. Next, run the command below:

composer dump-autoload

Step 4: Add Route

Next, you have to open and update the following routes in the `routes/web.php` file.

routes/web.php

<?php
  
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Route;
    
Route::get('call-helper', function(){
  
    $mdY = convertYmdToMdy('2022-02-12');
    var_dump("Converted into 'MDY': " . $mdY);
    
    $ymd = convertMdyToYmd('02-12-2022');
    var_dump("Converted into 'YMD': " . $ymd);
});

Run Laravel App:

All the required steps have been done, now you have to type the given below command and hit enter to run the Laravel app:

php artisan serve

Now, Go to your web browser, type the given URL and view the app output:

http://localhost:8000/call-helper

Output:

string(32) "Converted into 'MDY': 02-12-2022" 

string(32) "Converted into 'YMD': 2022-02-12"

Use In Blade File:

You can also use it in a Blade file as shown below:

Date: {{ convertYmdToMdy('2022-02-12') }}
   
Date: {{ convertMdyToYmd('02-12-2022') }}

I hope it can help you...