How to Check Laravel Version

Laravel, a popular PHP framework, is known for its simplicity, elegance, and powerful features. As Laravel continues to evolve, keeping track of the version you're using is essential for compatibility, security, and taking advantage of new features and improvements. In this article, we'll explore various methods to check the Laravel version of your project.

How to Check Laravel Version

Method 1: Check the `composer.json` file

The most straightforward way to check the Laravel version of your project is to look into the composer.json file located at the root of your Laravel project. Here's how to do it:

Open your terminal or command prompt.
Navigate to the root directory of your Laravel project.
Use a text editor or a command-line tool like cat (on Unix-based systems) or type (on Windows) to view the contents of the composer.json file. Look for a section called "require".
In the "require" section, you'll find an entry for Laravel. It should look something like this:
```
"require": {
    "laravel/framework": "8.*"
},
```
The version number, in this case, is "8.*", which indicates that Laravel 8 is being used. The exact version might vary depending on your project's setup.

Method 2: Use the `php artisan` command

Laravel provides a convenient command-line utility called artisan, which can be used to perform various tasks related to your Laravel project, including checking the Laravel version. Here's how to do it:

Open your terminal or command prompt.
Navigate to the root directory of your Laravel project.
Run the following command:
```
php artisan --version
```
This command will display the Laravel version installed in your project.

Method 3: Check the Laravel Application

In Laravel, you can also check the version of your application programmatically by using the following code snippet:

use Illuminate\Foundation\Application;

$app = app(Application::class);

$laravelVersion = $app::VERSION;

This code will fetch the Laravel version and store it in the $laravelVersion variable. You can then use this variable to display or log the version as needed within your application.

Conclusion

Knowing the Laravel version of your project is crucial for maintaining and managing your application effectively. By using any of the methods mentioned above, you can easily determine the Laravel version you are working with. Keeping your Laravel version up-to-date is also essential to benefit from bug fixes, security patches, and new features that the Laravel community continually introduces.

How to Check Laravel Version

Suresh Ramani