# Helper Functions

- [Introduction](#introduction)
- [Available Methods](#available-methods)

<a name="introduction"></a>
## Introduction

Laravel includes a variety of "helper" PHP functions. Many of these functions are used by the framework itself; however, you are free to use them in your own applications if you find them convenient.

<a name="available-methods"></a>
## Available Methods

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### Arrays

<div class="collection-method-list" markdown="1">
[array_add](#method-array-add)
[array_divide](#method-array-divide)
[array_dot](#method-array-dot)
[array_except](#method-array-except)
[array_fetch](#method-array-fetch)
[array_first](#method-array-first)
[array_flatten](#method-array-flatten)
[array_forget](#method-array-forget)
[array_get](#method-array-get)
[array_only](#method-array-only)
[array_pluck](#method-array-pluck)
[array_pull](#method-array-pull)
[array_set](#method-array-set)
[array_sort](#method-array-sort)
[array_where](#method-array-where)
[head](#method-head)
[last](#method-last)
</div>

### Paths

<div class="collection-method-list" markdown="1">
[app_path](#method-app-path)
[base_path](#method-base-path)
[config_path](#method-config-path)
[database_path](#method-database-path)
[public_path](#method-public-path)
[storage_path](#method-storage-path)
[storage_path](#method-storage-path)
</div>

### Strings

<div class="collection-method-list" markdown="1">
[camel_case](#method-camel-case)
[class_basename](#method-class-basename)
[e](#method-e)
[ends_with](#method-ends-with)
[snake_case](#method-snake-case)
[str_limit](#method-str-limit)
[starts_with](#method-starts-with)
[str_contains](#method-str-contains)
[str_finish](#method-str-finish)
[str_is](#method-str-is)
[str_plural](#method-str-plural)
[str_random](#method-str-random)
[str_singular](#method-str-singular)
[str_slug](#method-str-slug)
[studly_case](#method-studly-case)
[trans](#method-trans)
[trans_choice](#method-trans-choice)
</div>

### URLs

<div class="collection-method-list" markdown="1">
[action](#method-action)
[route](#method-route)
[url](#method-url)
</div>

### Miscellaneous

<div class="collection-method-list" markdown="1">
[csrf_token](#method-csrf-token)
[dd](#method-dd)
[elixir](#method-elixir)
[env](#method-env)
[event](#method-event)
[response](#method-response)
[value](#method-value)
[view](#method-view)
[with](#method-with)
</div>

<a name="method-listing"></a>
## Method Listing

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<a name="method-array-add"></a>
#### `array_add()` {#collection-method .first-collection-method}

The `array_add` function adds a given key / value pair to the array if the given key doesn't already exist in the array:

	$array = array_add(['name' => 'Desk'], 'price', 100);

	// ['name' => 'Desk', 'price' => 100]

<a name="method-array-divide"></a>
#### `array_divide()` {#collection-method}

The `array_divide` function returns two arrays, one containing the keys, and the other containing the values of the original array:

	list($keys, $values) = array_divide(['name' => 'Desk']);

	// $keys: ['name']

	// $values: ['Desk']

<a name="method-array-dot"></a>
#### `array_dot()` {#collection-method}

The `array_dot` function flattens a multi-dimensional array into a single level array that uses "dot" notation to indicate depth:

	$array = array_dot(['foo' => ['bar' => 'baz']]);

	// ['foo.bar' => 'baz'];

<a name="method-array-except"></a>
#### `array_except()` {#collection-method}

The `array_except` method removes the given key / value pairs from the array:

	$array = ['name' => 'Desk', 'price' => 100];

	$array = array_except($array, ['price']);

	// ['name' => 'Desk']

<a name="method-array-fetch"></a>
#### `array_fetch()` {#collection-method}

The `array_fetch` method returns a flattened array containing the values of the specified nested element:

	$array = [
		['developer' => ['name' => 'Taylor']],
		['developer' => ['name' => 'Abigail']]
	];

	$array = array_fetch($array, 'developer.name');

	// ['Taylor', 'Abigail'];

<a name="method-array-first"></a>
#### `array_first()` {#collection-method}

The `array_first` method returns the first element of an array passing a given truth test:

	$array = [100, 200, 300];

	$value = array_first($array, function ($key, $value) {
		return $value >= 150;
	});

	// 200

A default value may also be passed as the third parameter to the method. This value will be returned if no value passes the truth test:

	$value = array_first($array, $callback, $default);

<a name="method-array-flatten"></a>
#### `array_flatten()` {#collection-method}

The `array_flatten` method will flatten a multi-dimensional array into a single level.

	$array = ['name' => 'Joe', 'languages' => ['PHP', 'Ruby']];

	$array = array_flatten($array);

	// ['Joe', 'PHP', 'Ruby'];

<a name="method-array-forget"></a>
#### `array_forget()` {#collection-method}

The `array_forget` method removes a given key / value pair from a deeply nested array using "dot" notation:

	$array = ['products' => ['desk' => ['price' => 100]]];

	array_forget($array, 'products.desk');

	// ['products' => []]

<a name="method-array-get"></a>
#### `array_get()` {#collection-method}

The `array_get` method retrieves a value from a deeply nested array using "dot" notation:

	$array = ['products' => ['desk' => ['price' => 100]]];

	$value = array_get($array, 'products.desk');

	// ['price' => 100]

The `array_get` function also accepts a default value, which will be returned if the specific key is not found:

	$value = array_get($array, 'names.john', 'default');

<a name="method-array-only"></a>
#### `array_only()` {#collection-method}

The `array_only` method will return only the specified key / value pairs from the given array:

	$array = ['name' => 'Desk', 'price' => 100, 'orders' => 10];

	$array = array_only($array, ['name', 'price']);

	// ['name' => 'Desk', 'price' => 100]

<a name="method-array-pluck"></a>
#### `array_pluck()` {#collection-method}

The `array_pluck` method will pluck a list of the given key / value pairs from the array:

	$array = [['name' => 'Desk'], ['name' => 'Chair']];

	$array = array_pluck($array, 'name');

	// ['Desk', 'Chair'];

<a name="method-array-pull"></a>
#### `array_pull()` {#collection-method}

The `array_pull` method returns and removes a key / value pair from the array:

	$array = ['name' => 'Desk', 'price' => 100];

	$name = array_pull($array, 'name');

	// $name: Desk

	// $array: ['price' => 100]

<a name="method-array-set"></a>
#### `array_set()` {#collection-method}

The `array_set` method sets a value within a deeply nested array using "dot" notation:

	$array = ['products' => ['desk' => ['price' => 100]]];

	array_set($array, 'products.desk.price', 200);

	// ['products' => ['desk' => ['price' => 200]]]

<a name="method-array-sort"></a>
#### `array_sort()` {#collection-method}

The `array_sort` method sorts the array by the results of the given Closure:

	$array = [
		['name' => 'Desk'],
		['name' => 'Chair'],
	];

	$array = array_values(array_sort($array, function ($value) {
		return $value['name'];
	}));

	/*
		[
			['name' => 'Chair'],
			['name' => 'Desk'],
		]
	*/

<a name="method-array-where"></a>
#### `array_where()` {#collection-method}

The `array_where` function filters the array using the given Closure:

	$array = [100, '200', 300, '400', 500];

	$array = array_where($array, function ($key, $value) {
		return is_string($value);
	});

	// [1 => 200, 3 => 400]

<a name="method-head"></a>
#### `head()` {#collection-method}

The `head` function simply returns the first element in the given array:

	$array = [100, 200, 300];

	$first = head($array);

	// 100

<a name="method-last"></a>
#### `last()` {#collection-method}

The `last` function returns the first element in the given array:

	$array = [100, 200, 300];

	$last = head($array);

	// 300

<a name="paths"></a>
## Paths

<a name="method-app-path"></a>
#### `app_path()` {#collection-method}

The `app_path` function returns the fully qualified path to the `app` directory:

	$path = app_path();

You may also use the `app_path` function to generate a fully qualified path to a given file relative to the application directory:

	$path = app_path('Http/Controllers/Controller.php');

<a name="method-base-path"></a>
#### `base_path()` {#collection-method}

The `base_path` function returns the fully qualified path to the project root:

	$path = base_path();

You may also use the `base_path` function to generate a fully qualified path to a given file relative to the application directory:

	$path = base_path('vendor/bin');

<a name="method-config-path"></a>
#### `config_path()` {#collection-method}

The `config_path` function returns the fully qualified path to the application configuration directory:

	$path = config_path();

<a name="method-database-path"></a>
#### `database_path()` {#collection-method}

The `database_path` function returns the fully qualified path to the application's database directory:

	$path = database_path();

<a name="method-public-path"></a>
#### `public_path()` {#collection-method}

The `public_path` function returns the fully qualified path to the `public` directory:

	$path = public_path();

<a name="method-storage-path"></a>
#### `storage_path()` {#collection-method}

The `storage_path` function returns the fully qualified path to the `storage` directory:

	$path = storage_path();

You may also use the `storage_path` function to generate a fully qualified path to a given file relative to the storage directory:

	$path = storage_path('app/file.txt');

<a name="strings"></a>
## Strings

<a name="method-camel-case"></a>
#### `camel_case()` {#collection-method}

The `camel_case` function converts the given string to `camelCase`:

	$camel = camel_case('foo_bar');

	// fooBar

<a name="method-class-basename"></a>
#### `class_basename()` {#collection-method}

The `class_basename` returns the class name of the given class with the class' namespace removed:

	$class = class_basename('Foo\Bar\Baz');

	// Baz

<a name="method-e"></a>
#### `e()` {#collection-method}

The `e` function runs `htmlentities` over the given string:

	echo e('<html>foo</html>');

<a name="method-ends-with"></a>
#### `ends_with()` {#collection-method}

The `ends_with` function determines if the given string ends with the given value:

	$value = ends_with('This is my name', 'name');

	// true

<a name="method-snake-case"></a>
#### `snake_case()` {#collection-method}

The `snake_case` function converts the given string to `snake_case`:

	$snake = snake_case('fooBar');

	// foo_bar

<a name="method-str-limit"></a>
#### `str_limit()` {#collection-method}

The `str_limit` function limits the number of characters in a string. The function accepts a string as its first argument and the maximum number of resulting characters as its second argument:

	$value = str_limit('The PHP framework for web artisans.', 7);

	// The PHP...

<a name="method-starts-with"></a>
#### `starts_with()` {#collection-method}

The `starts_with` function determines if the given string begins with the given value:

	$value = starts_with('This is my name', 'This');

	// true

<a name="method-str-contains"></a>
#### `str_contains()` {#collection-method}

The `str_contains` function determines if the given string contains the given value:

	$value = str_contains('This is my name', 'my');

	// true

<a name="method-str-finish"></a>
#### `str_finish()` {#collection-method}

The `str_finish` function adds a single instance of the given value to a string:

	$string = str_finish('this/string', '/');

	// this/string/

<a name="method-str-is"></a>
#### `str_is()` {#collection-method}

The `str_is` function determines if a given string matches a given pattern. Asterisks may be used to indicate wildcards:

	$value = str_is('foo*', 'foobar');

	// true

	$value = str_is('baz*', 'foobar');

	// false

<a name="method-str-plural"></a>
#### `str_plural()` {#collection-method}

The `str_plural` function converts a string to its plural form. This function currently only supports the English language:

	$plural = str_plural('car');

	// cars

	$plural = str_plural('child');

	// children

<a name="method-str-random"></a>
#### `str_random()` {#collection-method}

The `str_random` function generates a random string of the specified length:

	$string = str_random(40);

<a name="method-str-singular"></a>
#### `str_singular()` {#collection-method}

The `str_singular` function converts a string to its singular form. This function currently only supports the English language:

	$singular = str_singular('cars');

	// car

<a name="method-str-slug"></a>
#### `str_slug()` {#collection-method}

The `str_slug` function generates a URL friendly "slug" from the given string:

	$title = str_slug("Laravel 5 Framework", "-");

	// laravel-5-framework

<a name="method-studly-case"></a>
#### `studly_case()` {#collection-method}

The `studly_case` function converts the given string to `StudlyCase`:

	$value = studly_case('foo_bar');

	// FooBar

<a name="method-trans"></a>
#### `trans()` {#collection-method}

The `trans` function translates the given language line using your [localization files](/docs/{{version}}/localization):

	echo trans('validation.required'):

<a name="method-trans-choice"></a>
#### `trans_choice()` {#collection-method}

The `trans_choice` function translates the given language line with inflection:

	$value = trans_choice('foo.bar', $count);

<a name="urls"></a>
## URLs

<a name="method-action"></a>
#### `action()` {#collection-method}

The `action` function generates a URL for the given controller action. You do not need to pass the full namespace to the controller. Instead, pass the controller class name relative to the `App\Http\Controllers` namespace:

	$url = action('HomeController@getIndex');

If the method accepts route parameters, you may them as the second argument to the method:

	$url = action('UserController@profile', ['id' => 1]);

<a name="method-route"></a>
#### `route()` {#collection-method}

The `route` function generates a URL for the given named route:

	$url = route('routeName');

If the route accepts parameters, you may them as the second argument to the method:

	$url = route('routeName', ['id' => 1]);

<a name="method-url"></a>
#### `url()` {#collection-method}

The `url` function generates a fully qualified URL to the given path:

	echo url('user/profile');

	echo url('user/profile', [1]);

<a name="miscellaneous"></a>
## Miscellaneous

<a name="method-csrf-token"></a>
#### `csrf_token()` {#collection-method}

The `csrf_token` function retrieves the value of the current CSRF token:

	$token = csrf_token();

<a name="method-dd"></a>
#### `dd()` {#collection-method}

The `dd` function dumps the given variable and ends execution of the script:

	dd($value);

<a name="method-elixir"></a>
#### `elixir()` {#collection-method}

The `elixir` function gets the path to the versioned [Elixir](/docs/{{version}}/elixir) file:

	elixir($file);

<a name="method-env"></a>
#### `env()` {#collection-method}

The `env` function gets the value of an environment variable or returns a default value:

	$env = env('APP_ENV');

	// Return a default value if the variable doesn't exist...
	$env = env('APP_ENV', 'production');

<a name="method-event"></a>
#### `event()` {#collection-method}

The `event` function dispatches the given [event](/docs/{{version}}/events) to its listeners:

	event(new UserRegistered($user));

<a name="method-response"></a>
#### `response()` {#collection-method}

The `response` function creates a [response](/docs/{{version}}/responses) instance or obtains an instance of the response factory:

	return response('Hello World', 200, $headers);

	return response()->json(['foo' => 'bar'], 200, $headers);

<a name="method-value"></a>
#### `value()` {#collection-method}

The `value` function's behavior will simply return the value it is given. However, if you pass a `Closure` to the function, the `Closure` will be executed the its result will be returned:

	$value = value(function() { return 'bar'; });

<a name="method-view"></a>
#### `view()` {#collection-method}

The `view` function retrieves a [view](/docs/{{version}}/views) instance:

	return view('auth.login');

<a name="method-with"></a>
#### `with()` {#collection-method}

The `with` function return the value it is given. This function is primarily useful for method chaining where it would otherwise be impossible:

	$value = with(new Foo)->work();