How to Launch Laravel on Web Hosting?

To launch Laravel on web hosting, you need to follow a set of steps. Here's a brief guide on how to do it:

1. Choose a web hosting provider that meets Laravel's system requirements. Look for providers that offer PHP, MySQL, and Composer support.
2. Purchase a hosting plan that suits your needs and register a domain name if necessary.
3. Access your web hosting account's control panel or login via SSH if available.
4. Set up an FTP client or use the hosting provider's file manager to upload Laravel to your web server. Ensure that you place the Laravel files in the public_html directory or the appropriate folder specified by your hosting provider.
5. Create a MySQL database from your hosting account's control panel and make a note of the database name, username, and password.
6. Configure Laravel's environment settings. In the root directory of your Laravel installation, you'll find a .env file. Edit it and enter the database credentials you obtained in the previous step.
7. Use Composer to install Laravel's dependencies. If you have SSH access, navigate to your Laravel installation directory and run the command "composer install" or "composer update" if you already have a composer.lock file. If you don't have SSH access, you can use Composer locally and upload the Laravel installation files to your web server.
8. Next, generate an application key. Run the command "php artisan key:generate" in your Laravel installation directory. This will generate a new key in the .env file, which is crucial for secure sessions and encryption.
9. Ensure that Laravel's storage and cache directories are writable by adjusting file permissions. Set the "storage" and "bootstrap/cache" directories to be writable by the web server.
10. Once everything is set up, navigate to your domain name in a web browser. If the deployment was successful, you should see the Laravel welcome screen or your custom application's homepage.

Remember that this is just a general overview, and the exact steps may vary depending on your hosting provider and setup. It's always a good idea to consult your hosting provider's documentation or support if you encounter any issues.

Best Hosting Providers of 2024

1

Rating is 5 out of 5

DigitalOcean

Activate Hosting

2

Rating is 5 out of 5

Vultr

Activate Hosting

3

Rating is 5 out of 5

AWS

Activate Hosting

4

Rating is 5 out of 5

Cloudways

Activate Hosting

How to choose a reliable web hosting provider for Laravel?

Choosing a reliable web hosting provider for Laravel involves considering several factors. Here are some steps to help you make the right decision:

1. Understand Laravel's Technical Requirements: Familiarize yourself with the technical requirements of Laravel, such as PHP version, database type, and disk space. Ensure the provider supports these requirements.
2. Reliability and Uptime: Look for a hosting provider with a proven track record of excellent uptime. Check reviews and testimonials to assess their reliability.
3. Performance: Consider the hosting provider's server performance and speed. A slow loading website can deter visitors. Look for providers with fast and efficient servers.
4. Scalability: Assess if the hosting provider can accommodate the growth of your Laravel application. Check their plans for scalability and flexibility, such as the option to upgrade resources as needed.
5. Security: Verify the provider's security measures, including firewalls, malware scanning, SSL certificates, and regular backups. Laravel applications handle sensitive data, so security is paramount.
6. Technical Support: Evaluate the level of technical support provided by the hosting provider. Ensure they offer responsive customer support through various channels, like live chat, email, or phone.
7. Pricing and Plans: Consider your budget and evaluate the hosting provider's pricing structure. Compare their plans and features with other providers to ensure you're getting value for money.
8. User Interface and Control Panel: Assess the hosting provider's user interface and control panel. An intuitive and user-friendly control panel can make managing your Laravel application easier.
9. Reviews and Recommendations: Read reviews from other Laravel developers to get insights and recommendations on reliable hosting providers.
10. Compatibility with Laravel Ecosystem: Check if the hosting provider offers specific features or optimizations for Laravel, such as Laravel-specific caching or deployment tools.
11. Money-Back Guarantee: Verify if the hosting provider offers a money-back guarantee or a trial period. This can provide a safety net if you're unsatisfied with the service.

By considering these factors, you can find a reliable web hosting provider for your Laravel application that meets your specific needs.

How to manage migrations in Laravel on web hosting?

To manage migrations in Laravel on a web hosting environment, you can follow these steps:

1. Access your web hosting server via SSH by using a tool like PuTTY (Windows) or Terminal (Mac/Linux). You'll need to provide your server credentials.
2. Navigate to the root folder of your Laravel project using the 'cd' command. For example, if your project is located in /var/www/your-project, use the following command: cd /var/www/your-project
3. Generate the Laravel migration files by running the artisan migrate:install command. This will create a migrations table in your database, which is necessary for tracking the status of your migrations. Use the following command: php artisan migrate:install
4. Create your migration files using the artisan migrate:make command. For example, if you want to create a migration to create a "users" table, use the following command: php artisan migrate:make create_users_table
5. Implement the necessary schema changes in the generated migration file. Open the newly created migration file in the "database/migrations" folder, and define the table structure and any other necessary changes.
6. Run the migrations using the artisan migrate command. This command will execute all pending migrations on your server. Use the following command: php artisan migrate
7. If you make changes to your migrations or need to rollback a migration, you can use the artisan migrate:rollback or artisan migrate:refresh commands. These will undo the last batch of migrations. For example, to rollback the last batch of migrations, use the following command: php artisan migrate:rollback

That's it! By following these steps, you can manage your Laravel migrations on your web hosting server.

What are the steps to deploy a Laravel application on web hosting?

To deploy a Laravel application on web hosting, follow these steps:

1. Choose a web hosting provider: Select a web hosting provider that supports PHP and offers support for Laravel applications. There are various hosting providers available, such as Bluehost, SiteGround, and DigitalOcean.
2. Prepare the Laravel application: Make sure that your Laravel application is ready for deployment. This includes completing the development, setting up the necessary configuration, and running any necessary migrations or database seeders.
3. Set up the web server: Depending on your hosting provider, you may need to set up a web server. Most providers offer tools like cPanel or Plesk, which allow you to manage your server environment easily. You will need to create a domain or subdomain and point it to your Laravel application's public folder.
4. Transfer files to the hosting server: Use a secure FTP client like FileZilla to transfer your Laravel application files to your hosting server. Connect to the server using the FTP credentials provided by your hosting provider and upload all the files and folders while maintaining the directory structure.
5. Set up the database: Create a database for your Laravel application on the hosting server. You can usually do this from the database management tool (like phpMyAdmin) provided by your hosting provider. Note down the database credentials.
6. Update the environment configuration: In the root directory of your Laravel application on the hosting server, find the .env file. Update the database connection settings with the credentials of the database you created in the previous step.
7. Install dependencies: Connect to your hosting server via SSH and navigate to the root directory of your Laravel application. Run composer install to install all the project dependencies.
8. Generate application key: While still in the SSH terminal, run php artisan key:generate to generate a unique application key for your Laravel application.
9. Optimize application: Run php artisan optimize to generate optimized autoload files and cache the configuration. This step improves the application's performance.
10. Run migrations: If your Laravel application requires any database migrations, run php artisan migrate to execute them on the hosting server.
11. Handle file permissions: Make sure that the storage and cache directories of your Laravel application have appropriate write permissions. Usually, running chmod -R 775 storage and chmod -R 775 bootstrap/cache from the SSH terminal will suffice.
12. Test the application: Access your Laravel application from your domain or subdomain. Perform several tests to ensure that everything is working correctly.

That's it! Your Laravel application is now deployed and running on your web hosting server.

What are the options for load balancing Laravel applications on web hosting?

There are several options for load balancing Laravel applications on web hosting:

1. Nginx Load Balancer: Nginx is a high-performance web server and reverse proxy server that can also function as a load balancer. You can configure multiple Laravel application servers and distribute incoming requests evenly among them using Nginx's load balancing features.
2. Apache HTTP Server Load Balancer: Apache HTTP Server can also be used as a load balancer for Laravel applications. It offers several load balancing modules such as mod_proxy and mod_proxy_balancer that can be used to distribute requests to multiple application servers.
3. HAProxy: HAProxy is a popular open-source load balancer that is known for its high performance and reliability. It can be set up to load balance Laravel applications by distributing incoming requests among multiple backend servers.
4. Cloud Load Balancer: Many cloud hosting providers offer load balancing services that can be used to distribute traffic across multiple instances of your Laravel application. Providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure offer load balancing solutions that are specifically designed for cloud-based applications.
5. Laravel Forge: Laravel Forge is a server management and deployment tool that also supports load balancing for Laravel applications. It provides an easy-to-use interface to set up and manage load balancers and application servers.
6. Load Balancer as a Service: There are also third-party load balancing services available that can be used for Laravel applications. These services provide load balancing capabilities without requiring you to manage the infrastructure. Examples include DigitalOcean Load Balancers, Linode NodeBalancers, and Cloudflare Load Balancing.