How to Add Helper File in Laravel 12 for the Entire Project

Zia

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Apr 25, 2025

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How to Add Helper File in Laravel 12 for the Entire Project

In Laravel development, helper functions are often used to simplify repeated tasks such as formatting strings, generating slugs, or handling date conversions. Instead of rewriting the same logic in multiple controllers or services, you can place reusable logic in a global helper file.

Laravel 12 doesn’t come with a default helper file, but it gives you the flexibility to create one and load it globally. This guide will walk you through adding a custom helper file that is available across your entire Laravel 12 project.

1. Create the Helper File

First, create a PHP file where your custom helper functions will live. You can place it inside the app directory or create a new Helpers folder for better structure.

mkdir app/Helpers

mkdir app/Helpers/helpers.php

Or, simply create the file manually:

File Path: app/Helpers/helpers.php

2. Add Your Custom Functions

Open the helpers.php file and define your functions. Here's an example:

<?php

if (!function_exists('formatDate')) {

function formatDate($date, $format = 'd M Y') {

return \Carbon\Carbon::parse($date)->format($format);

}

if (!function_exists('greetUser')) {

function greetUser($name) {

return "Hello, " . ucfirst($name) . "!";

}

Note: Always use function_exists() to prevent redeclaration errors.

3. Load Helper File Automatically via Composer

Now you need to tell Laravel to automatically load this file. You’ll do that by modifying the composer.json file in the root of your Laravel project.

Open composer.json
Look for the autoload section
Add the path to your helper file under "files"

"autoload": {

"psr-4": {

"App\\": "app/"

"files": [

"app/Helpers/helpers.php"

]

}

4. Dump Autoload

After updating composer.json, you must regenerate the Composer autoload files so Laravel starts recognizing your helper functions.

Run this command in the terminal:

composer dump-autoload

5. Use Helper Functions Anywhere

Now, your helper functions are available globally throughout the Laravel application. You can use them in controllers, models, blade files, middleware, etc.

Example usage in a controller:

public function index()

{

$date = '2025-04-24';

$formatted = formatDate($date);

$greeting = greetUser('zia');

return view('welcome', compact('formatted', 'greeting'));

}

Tips:

Keep helper functions small, focused, and pure (no database calls ideally).
Group functions by purpose if your helper file grows too large, like: StringHelper.php, DateHelper.php, etc.
If using multiple helper files, just register all of them in the "files" array inside composer.json.

Conclusion

Creating and using a helper file in Laravel 12 is simple, powerful, and keeps your code clean. Whether you’re building a small feature or a large module, helper functions can save time and reduce repetition. Just remember to structure your helpers wisely and keep them well-documented for maintainability.

Now that you know how to add a helper file in Laravel 12, go ahead and enhance your codebase with smart, reusable utility functions!

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Zia

Zia, founder and CEO of Texvn and Toolx, is a passionate entrepreneur and tech enthusiast. With a strong focus on empowering developers, he creates innovative tools and content, making coding and idea generation easier.