# Laravel - A Clean & Classy PHP Framework

## Introduction

Laravel is a clean and classy framework for PHP web development. Freeing you from spaghetti code, Laravel helps you create wonderful applications using simple, expressive syntax. Development should be a creative experience that you enjoy, not something that is painful. Enjoy the fresh air.

## Table Of Contents

### Getting Started

- <a href="#installation">Requirements & Installation</a>
- <a href="#config">Basic Configuration</a>
- <a href="#routes">Routes</a>
- <a href="#views">Views & Responses</a>
- <a href="#urls">Generating URLs</a>
- <a href="#html">Generating HTML</a>
- <a href="#errors">Errors & Logs</a>

### Input

- <a href="#input">Retrieving Input</a>
- <a href="#cookie">Cookies</a>
- <a href="#validation">Validation</a>
- <a href="#forms">Building Forms</a>

### Database

- <a href="#db-config">Configuration</a>
- <a href="#db-usage">Usage</a>
- <a href="#fluent">Fluent Query Builder</a>
- <a href="#eloquent">Eloquent ORM</a>

### Caching

- <a href="#cache-config">Configuration</a>
- <a href="#cache-usage">Usage</a>

### Sessions

- <a href="#session-config">Configuration</a>
- <a href="#session-usage">Usage</a>

### Authentication

- <a href="#auth-config">Configuration</a>
- <a href="#auth-usage">Usage</a>

### Other Topics

- <a href="#lang">Localization</a>
- <a href="#crypt">Encryption</a>

<a name="installation"></a>
## Requirements & Installation

### Requirements

- Apache, nginx, or another compatible web server.
- PHP 5.3+ (which supports namespaces, closures, etc.)

### Installation

1. Download Laravel
2. Extract the Laravel archive and upload the contents to your web server.
3. Set the URL of your application in the **application/config/application.php** file.
4. Navigate to your application in a web browser.

If all is well, you should see a pretty Laravel splash page. Get ready, there is lots more to learn!

### Extras

Installaing the following goodies will help you take full advantage of Laravel, but they are not required:

- SQLite, MySQL, or PostgreSQL PDO drivers.
- Memcached or APC.

### Problems?

- Make sure the **public** directory is the document root of your web server.
- If you are using mod\_rewrite, set the **index** option in **application/config/application.php** to an empty string.