Optimize Laravel 12 for Maximum Performance: A Complete Guide

A slow Laravel application can frustrate users and hurt SEO rankings. In this guide, we'll explore proven optimization techniques to make Laravel 12 super fast—covering caching, database tuning, asset optimization, and advanced server configurations.

1. Enable Laravel’s Built-in Caching

Caching reduces database queries and speeds up response times.

1.1 Route Caching

php artisan route:cache

When to use: After deploying changes to routes.
Note: Run php artisan route:clear when modifying routes.

1.2 Config Caching

php artisan config:cache

Caches configuration files for faster loading.
Clear with php artisan config:clear after updates.

1.3 View Caching

php artisan view:cache

Pre-compiles Blade templates.
Clear with php artisan view:clear.

1.4 Use Redis for Cache & Sessions

Replace file/database cache driver with Redis:

CACHE_DRIVER=redis
SESSION_DRIVER=redis

Install Redis:

sudo apt install redis-server
composer require predis/predis

2. Optimize Database Performance

Slow queries are a common bottleneck.

2.1 Index Frequently Queried Columns

Schema::table('users', function (Blueprint $table) {
    $table->index('email'); // Speeds up WHERE email='x' queries
});

2.2 Use Eager Loading (Avoid N+1 Problem)

❌ Bad (N+1 queries):

$posts = Post::all();
foreach ($posts as $post) {
    echo $post->author->name; // Queries DB for each post
}

✅ Good (1 query):

$posts = Post::with('author')->get();

2.3 Paginate Large Datasets

$users = User::paginate(20); // Loads 20 records per page

2.4 Optimize Migrations

Combine multiple migrations into fewer files.
Avoid unnecessary columns.

3. Optimize Composer & Autoloader

3.1 Optimize Composer Autoload

composer dump-autoload -o

3.2 Remove Unused Packages

To remove packages that are no longer required, execute the following command. Replace unused/package with the actual name of the package you wish to remove.

composer remove your/package-name

4. Frontend Asset Optimization

4.1 Use Vite for Minification

npm install
npm run build

This command installs all dependencies and builds the assets for production.

Minifies JS/CSS.

Versioning for cache busting.

4.2 Serve Assets via CDN

Update .env:

ASSET_URL=https://cdn.yourdomain.com

4.3 Lazy Load Images

<img src="placeholder.jpg" data-src="real-image.jpg" loading="lazy">

5. Server-Level Optimizations

5.1 Use PHP OPcache

Enable in php.ini:

opcache.enable=1
opcache.memory_consumption=256
opcache.max_accelerated_files=20000

5.2 Enable HTTP/2 & Gzip Compression

Nginx Example:

gzip on;
gzip_types text/css application/javascript;

5.3 Use a Reverse Proxy (Nginx + PHP-FPM)

Example Nginx config:

location ~ \.php$ {
    fastcgi_pass unix:/var/run/php/php8.2-fpm.sock;
    fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME $realpath_root$fastcgi_script_name;
    include fastcgi_params;
}

6. Queue Heavy Tasks

Offload slow operations (emails, exports) to queues:

php artisan make:job ProcessPodcast

Dispatch jobs:

ProcessPodcast::dispatch($podcast)->onQueue('default');

Run the queue worker:

php artisan queue:work --queue=high,default

7. Monitor Performance

7.1 Laravel Telescope (Debugging)

composer require laravel/telescope
php artisan telescope:install
php artisan migrate

Monitors requests, queries, jobs.

7.2 Laravel Horizon (Queue Monitoring)

composer require laravel/horizon
php artisan horizon:install

Manages Redis queues.

7.3 Use Blackfire.io or Clockwork

Profiler tools to identify bottlenecks.

8. Advanced Optimizations

8.1 Use JIT Compiler (PHP 8.2)