Laravel, one of the most popular PHP frameworks, is well-known for its elegant routing system. It allows developers to define URL patterns and bind them to specific controller actions or closures effortlessly. However, as projects grow, it’s common to encounter routing issues, especially 404 errors. In this article, we’ll explore Laravel Routing basics, common reasons behind 404 errors, and best practices for handling 404 errors in Laravel.
What Is Laravel Routing?
Routing in Laravel refers to the mechanism of defining endpoints for a web application. When a user visits a URL, Laravel matches it with defined routes and executes the associated action.
Basic Route Example
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Route;
Route::get('/welcome', function () {
return view('welcome');
});
Types of Routes in Laravel
1. Basic Routes
Route::get('/about', 'PageController@about');
2. POST, PUT, DELETE Routes
Route::post('/contact', 'ContactController@store');
Route::put('/profile/{id}', 'UserController@update');
3. Route Parameters
Route::get('/user/{id}', 'UserController@show');
4. Optional Parameters
Route::get('/user/{name?}', function ($name = 'Guest') {
return $name;
});
5. Named Routes
Route::get('/dashboard', 'DashboardController@index')->name('dashboard');
What Is a 404 Error in Laravel?
A 404 error means the requested page or resource was not found on the server. In Laravel, this usually occurs when:
- A route is not defined for the requested URL.
- The route exists but uses the wrong HTTP method.
- Dynamic parameters are missing or incorrectly passed.
Common Causes of 404 Errors in Laravel
Cause | Example |
---|---|
Wrong route method | Using GET instead of POST |
Typo in URL | /usre/1 instead of /user/1 |
Middleware restriction | Route requires auth but user not logged in |
Route caching issue | Route added but php artisan route:cache not updated |
Dynamic routes not matching | Missing {id} parameter |
How to Handle 404 Errors in Laravel
Laravel handles 404 errors using the app/Exceptions/Handler.php
file.
Custom 404 Page
- Create a
resources/views/errors/404.blade.php
file:
@extends('layouts.app')
@section('content')
<h1>Oops! Page not found.</h1>
<p>The page you’re looking for doesn’t exist or has been moved.</p>
<a href="{{ url('/') }}">Go to Homepage</a>
@endsection
Bonus: Debugging Tips
Run php artisan route:list
to see all defined routes.
Check the HTTP method being used (GET, POST, etc.).
Use route groups carefully with middleware or prefixes.
After modifying routes, clear cache:
php artisan route:clear