If you have been told that a project will be built using Laravel, or if you are evaluating options for a custom web application, you have probably encountered the name without a clear explanation of what it actually is. This is that explanation, written for business owners rather than developers.
Laravel is a framework for building web applications using PHP. A framework, in this context, is a structured set of tools and conventions that a developer uses as a foundation when building something custom. Rather than writing every component of an application from scratch, a Laravel developer uses a well-maintained, widely-understood foundation and builds the specific functionality your business needs on top of it.
The alternative to using a framework like Laravel is either using a CMS, which comes with pre-built assumptions about what your application does, or writing everything from scratch, which is slow and produces code that only the original developer fully understands. Laravel sits in between: structured and maintainable, but flexible enough to accommodate your specific requirements without forcing workarounds.
Laravel has been in active development since 2011 and is one of the most widely used PHP frameworks in the world. This means it receives regular security updates, has a large developer community, and is well documented. It is not a proprietary or obscure tool. An application built in Laravel can be maintained and extended by any competent Laravel developer, not just the one who originally built it.
Laravel is a sensible choice for applications that require custom data processing, complex user roles and permissions, integration with external systems and APIs, multi-step workflows, or functionality that sits alongside or replaces a CMS for a specific purpose. It is also commonly used to build the backend of web applications that connect to ExpressionEngine or Craft CMS sites, extending what those platforms can do without replacing them.
The most important thing to establish before any custom development project is clarity on what needs to be built and what success looks like. Laravel is a capable tool, but the quality of the result depends primarily on how clearly the requirements are defined and how well the developer understands both the technical requirements and the business context. A well-specified Laravel application, built by someone who understands your industry, will serve you far better than a poorly specified one built by someone who only understands the code.
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Most business websites are built on content management systems. That makes sense for most situations. But there are cases where a CMS is the wrong tool, and the gap between what a CMS can do and what a business needs it to do creates ongoing friction, cost, and limitation. Knowing when a bespoke solution makes more sense is a useful thing to understand.
Most clients come to us when their site has started to feel like a risk rather than an asset. Whether the agency relationship has ended, an upgrade has been delayed, or the site has simply grown beyond what it can handle, a conversation costs nothing.
Get in touch with KarlTrusted by established businesses and growing brands across the UK
Expression 37 works with a small number of clients at any one time. These are some of them.
Karl is the founder of Expression 37 Ltd and has been working exclusively with ExpressionEngine and Craft CMS since 2007. In eighteen years he has supported more than 80 clients across the UK, from long-term retainer arrangements to emergency rescues when something has gone wrong at the worst possible moment. Every piece of work is handled personally by Karl, with no account managers or junior developers between you and the person doing it.
Find out how we workUpon completion of the Thornfields Primary Care Trust website, we had no hesitation on asking Expression 37 to help out with some further development updates with our main company website. As with the Thornfields project Karl and his team turned around our requests with flawless speed and efficiency, often adding further advice and guidance on how to best implement the features required. If you are looking for a tried and trusted ExpressionEngine specialist we strongly recommend these guys.
Chris Ibbetson - FPM Group General Manager.
First Practice Management Ltd.