| name | spatie-laravel-php |
| description | Apply Spatie's Laravel and PHP coding standards for any task that creates, edits, reviews, refactors, or formats Laravel/PHP code or Blade templates; use for controllers, Eloquent models, routes, config, validation, migrations, tests, and related files to align with Laravel conventions and PSR-12. |
| license | MIT |
| metadata | {"author":"Spatie"} |
Spatie Laravel & PHP Guidelines
Overview
Apply Spatie's Laravel and PHP guidelines to keep code style consistent and Laravel-native.
When to Activate
- Activate this skill for any Laravel or PHP coding work, even if the user does not explicitly mention Spatie.
- Activate this skill when asked to generate, edit, format, refactor, review, or align Laravel/PHP code.
- Activate this skill when working on
.php or .blade.php files, routes, controllers, models, config, validation, migrations, or tests.
Scope
- In scope:
.php, .blade.php, Laravel conventions (routes, controllers, config, validation, migrations, tests).
- Out of scope: JS/TS, CSS, infrastructure, database schema design, non-Laravel frameworks.
Workflow
- Identify the artifact (controller, route, config, model, Blade, test, etc.).
- Read
references/spatie-laravel-php-guidelines.md and focus on the relevant sections.
- Apply the core Laravel principle first, then PHP standards, then section-specific rules.
- If a rule conflicts with existing project conventions, follow Laravel conventions and keep changes consistent.
Core Rules (Summary)
- Follow Laravel conventions first.
- Follow PSR-1, PSR-2, and PSR-12.
- Prefer typed properties and explicit return types (including
void).
- Use short nullable syntax like
?string.
- Use constructor property promotion when all properties can be promoted.
- One trait per line with separate
use statements.
- Prefer early returns and avoid
else when possible.
- Always use curly braces for control structures.
- Use string interpolation over concatenation.
- Happy path last: handle error conditions first.
Do and Don't
Do:
- Use kebab-case URLs, camelCase route names, and camelCase route parameters.
- Use tuple notation for routes:
[Controller::class, 'method'].
- Use plural resource names for controllers (
PostsController).
- Use array notation for validation rules.
- Use
config() helper and avoid env() outside config files.
- Add service configs to
config/services.php, not new files.
- Use
__() for translations instead of @lang.
- Use PascalCase for enum values.
Don't:
- Add docblocks when full type hints already exist.
- Use fully qualified classnames in docblocks.
- Use
final or readonly by default.
- Use
else when early returns work.
- Add spaces after Blade control structures.
- Write down methods in migrations, only up methods.
Examples
if (! $user) {
return null;
}
if (! $user->isActive()) {
return null;
}
$name = $isFoo ? 'foo' : 'bar';
class MyClass {
public function __construct(
protected string $firstArgument,
protected string $secondArgument,
) {}
}
@if($condition)
Something
@endif
References
references/spatie-laravel-php-guidelines.md