How do I configure the database connection in Laravel?
Jun 13, 2025 am 12:37 AMTo set up a database connection in Laravel, configure the .env file with correct credentials, ensure the right database driver is used, and test the connection. First, update DB_CONNECTION, DB_HOST, DB_PORT, DB_DATABASE, DB_USERNAME, and DB_PASSWORD in the .env file to match your database setup. Second, confirm that the DB_CONNECTION value matches your database type—such as mysql, pgsql, or sqlite—and that the required PHP extensions like pdo_mysql are enabled. Third, test the connection using Laravel Tinker with DB::select('SELECT 1') or create a route in routes/web.php that attempts to connect and returns a success or failure message. Ensure there are no typos or missing drivers if errors occur.
Setting up a database connection in Laravel is straightforward, but there are a few key steps you need to get right. The main configuration happens in the .env
file and config/database.php
, with .env
being the primary place you’ll adjust for most setups.
Set Up Your Database Credentials in .env
Laravel uses the .env
file to manage environment-specific settings, including your database connection details. Open the .env
file at the root of your Laravel project and look for these lines:
DB_CONNECTION=mysql DB_HOST=127.0.0.1 DB_PORT=3306 DB_DATABASE=your_database_name DB_USERNAME=your_username DB_PASSWORD=your_password
Update these values to match your database setup. For example, if you’re using MySQL locally with a database called blog
, username root
, and no password, it should look like:
DB_CONNECTION=mysql DB_HOST=127.0.0.1 DB_PORT=3306 DB_DATABASE=blog DB_USERNAME=root DB_PASSWORD=
Make sure that the DB_CONNECTION
matches the type of database you're using—like mysql
, pgsql
, or sqlite
.
Choose the Right Database Driver
Laravel supports several databases out of the box: MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and SQL Server. If you're not using MySQL by default, you'll want to double-check that the correct driver is specified in DB_CONNECTION
. Also, make sure the corresponding PHP extensions are enabled—for example, pdo_mysql
for MySQL or pdo_pgsql
for PostgreSQL.
If you're unsure whether the required extension is active, you can check via:
- Running
php -m
in the terminal to list all modules. - Or creating a
phpinfo()
page if you're working on a local server.
Sometimes even after setting the right credentials, Laravel might still throw a database connection error. This often comes down to missing drivers or misconfigured environments.
Test the Connection with a Simple Query
Once everything is configured, it’s good practice to test your database connection before diving into migrations or models. You can do this quickly using Tinker, Laravel's REPL tool:
php artisan tinker
Then run a simple query like:
DB::select('SELECT 1');
If you get [{'1': 1}]
as a result, your connection is working. If not, Laravel will usually give you an error message pointing to the problem—most commonly incorrect credentials or unreachable host.
You can also create a quick route in routes/web.php
to test it from the browser:
Route::get('/test-db', function () { try { DB::connection()->getPdo(); return "Database connected!"; } catch (\Exception $e) { return "Database connection failed."; } });
Visit /test-db
in your browser to see the result.
That’s basically it. Configure .env
, confirm the driver, and test the connection. It’s simple, but easy to trip over small mistakes like typoed passwords or inactive extensions.
The above is the detailed content of How do I configure the database connection in Laravel?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

Hot AI Tools

Undress AI Tool
Undress images for free

Undresser.AI Undress
AI-powered app for creating realistic nude photos

AI Clothes Remover
Online AI tool for removing clothes from photos.

Clothoff.io
AI clothes remover

Video Face Swap
Swap faces in any video effortlessly with our completely free AI face swap tool!

Hot Article

Hot Tools

Notepad++7.3.1
Easy-to-use and free code editor

SublimeText3 Chinese version
Chinese version, very easy to use

Zend Studio 13.0.1
Powerful PHP integrated development environment

Dreamweaver CS6
Visual web development tools

SublimeText3 Mac version
God-level code editing software (SublimeText3)

Hot Topics

To connect to MySQL databases, you can use JDBC, MySQLConnector/Python and mysql2 libraries. 1.JDBC is suitable for Java developers, with intuitive code and suitable for beginners. 2.MySQLConnector/Python is an official library with good performance and stability and is suitable for Python developers. 3. Mysql2 library is suitable for high-performance and asynchronous operation scenarios of Node.js.

Efficient methods for testing Laravel API interfaces include: 1) using Laravel's own testing framework and third-party tools such as Postman or Insomnia; 2) writing unit tests, functional tests and integration tests; 3) emulating a real request environment and managing database status. Through these steps, the stability and functional integrity of the API can be ensured.

Custom Laravel user authentication logic can be implemented through the following steps: 1. Add additional verification conditions when logging in, such as mailbox verification. 2. Create a custom Guard class and expand the authentication process. Custom authentication logic requires a deep understanding of Laravel's authentication system and pay attention to security, performance and maintenance.

The steps to create a package in Laravel include: 1) Understanding the advantages of packages, such as modularity and reuse; 2) following Laravel naming and structural specifications; 3) creating a service provider using artisan command; 4) publishing configuration files correctly; 5) managing version control and publishing to Packagist; 6) performing rigorous testing; 7) writing detailed documentation; 8) ensuring compatibility with different Laravel versions.

Integrating social media login in the Laravel framework can be achieved by using the LaravelSocialite package. 1. Install the Socialite package: use composerrequirelaravel/socialite. 2. Configure the service provider and alias: add relevant configuration in config/app.php. 3. Set API credentials: Configure social media API credentials in .env and config/services.php. 4. Write controller method: Add redirection and callback methods to handle social media login process. 5. Handle FAQs: Ensure user uniqueness, data synchronization, security and error handling. 6. Optimization practice:

Implementing password reset function in Laravel requires the following steps: 1. Configure the email service and set relevant parameters in the .env file; 2. Define password reset routes in routes/web.php; 3. Customize email templates; 4. Pay attention to email sending problems and the validity period of tokens, and adjust the configuration if necessary; 5. Consider security to prevent brute-force attacks; 6. After the password reset is successful, force the user to log out of other devices.

Common security threats in Laravel applications include SQL injection, cross-site scripting attacks (XSS), cross-site request forgery (CSRF), and file upload vulnerabilities. Protection measures include: 1. Use EloquentORM and QueryBuilder for parameterized queries to avoid SQL injection. 2. Verify and filter user input to ensure the security of output and prevent XSS attacks. 3. Set CSRF tokens in forms and AJAX requests to protect the application from CSRF attacks. 4. Strictly verify and process file uploads to ensure file security. 5. Regular code audits and security tests are carried out to discover and fix potential security vulnerabilities.

Middleware is a filtering mechanism in Laravel that is used to intercept and process HTTP requests. Use steps: 1. Create middleware: Use the command "phpartisanmake:middlewareCheckRole". 2. Define processing logic: Write specific logic in the generated file. 3. Register middleware: Add middleware in Kernel.php. 4. Use middleware: Apply middleware in routing definition.
