Create app/Helpers/helpers.php file and define functions such as formatPrice, isActiveRoute and uploadImage; 2. Add helpers.php path in autoload.files of composer.json; 3. Run composer dump-autoload to make the functions globally available; 4. Use these functions anywhere in view, controller, etc.; 5. If the functions increase, you can split multiple auxiliary files and register them to autoload.files; 6. Follow best practices to avoid logical complexity and naming conflicts, and ultimately achieve simple and efficient global function reuse.
Creating custom helper functions in Laravel is a simple and effective way to reuse common logic across your application. Here's how you can do it properly.

1. Create a Custom Helpers File
Laravel doesn't restrict where you put helper functions, but the common practice is to create a dedicated file for them.
- Navigate to the
app/Helpers
directory (create it if it doesn't exist). - Create a new PHP file, eg,
helpers.php
.
app/ └── Helpers/ └── helpers.php
Now, add your custom functions inside helpers.php
:

<?php // app/Helpers/helpers.php function formatPrice($amount) { return '$' . number_format($amount, 2); } function isActiveRoute($routeName) { return request()->routeIs($routeName) ? 'active' : ''; } function uploadImage($file, $folder = 'images') { return $file->store($folder, 'public'); }
?? These functions are global, so avoid naming conflicts (eg, don't use names like
request()
orconfig()
).
2. Autoload the Helpers File with Composer
To make Laravel load your helper functions automatically, you need to tell Composer to include the file.

Open composer.json
and locate the autoload
section. Update it like this:
"autoload": { "psr-4": { "App\\": "app/" }, "files": [ "app/Helpers/helpers.php" ] }
After updating composer.json
, run:
composer dump-autoload
This command regenerates the autoloader and include your helper file in every request.
3. Using the Helper Functions
Now you can use your custom functions anywhere in your app — in views, controllers, Blade templates, or routes.
In a Blade template:
<p>Total: {{ formatPrice(99.99) }}</p> <li class="{{ isActiveRoute('home') }}">Home</li>
In a controller:
use Illuminate\Http\Request; class ProductController extends Controller { public function store(Request $request) { $path = uploadImage($request->file('image'), 'products'); // Save $path to database } }
Optional: Organize Helpers into Multiple Files
If your app grows, consider splitting helpers into multiple files (eg, string_helpers.php
, file_helpers.php
).
Just add each file to the files
array in composer.json
:
"files": [ "app/Helpers/helpers.php", "app/Helpers/string_helpers.php", "app/Helpers/file_helpers.php" ]
And run composer dump-autoload
again.
Best Practices
- Avoid overusing helpers — if logic is complex or involves business rules, use services or classes instead.
- Keep function names clear and unique.
- Don't put Laravel-specific logic (like DB queries) directly in helpers unless they're truly reusable.
- Consider type hints and return types for better maintenance.
That's it. Custom helpers in Laravel are easy to set up and handy for small, reusable utilities. Just create the file, autoload it, and start using your functions. Basically, it boils down to one file and one Composer tweak.
The above is the detailed content of How to create custom helper functions in Laravel?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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