Configuration Caching in Laravel

Laravel has a feature called configuration caching. It combines all config files into a single, optimized file for faster access. It speeds up the app by reducing the time to load separate config files at runtime.

Origin

Configuration caching aims to boost Laravel apps, especially in production. There, performance is key.

Why is Configuration Caching Used?

1. Improves Performance: The system spends less time loading configuration files.
2. Simplifies Deployment: Maintains consistent configurations across environments.
3. Reduces Overhead: Simplifies the framework's initialization process.

Best Practices.

1. Use in Production Only: During development, avoid caching to ensure that changes are instant.
2. Clear Cache on Changes: After editing configuration files, run 'php artisan config:clear'.
3. Combine with Route Caching: Improve efficiency by caching routes.

Example in Action

To enable configuration caching, run:

php artisan config:cache

This command creates a single cached file at bootstrap/cache/config.php. To clear the cache:

php artisan config:clear