Laravel Query Builder

What is Query Builder?

Laravel Query Builder is a fluent, chainable interface for building SQL queries programmatically without writing raw SQL.

Instead of typing plain SQL like:

SELECT * FROM users WHERE active = 1 ORDER BY name ASC;

You can write it in Query Builder:

$users = DB::table('users')
      ->where('active', 1)
      ->orderBy('name', 'asc')
      ->get();

Why Use Query Builder?

✅ Security (Prevents SQL Injection) → Automatically binds parameters.

✅ Readability → Cleaner, chainable syntax.

✅ Portability → Works across different database drivers (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server).

✅ Maintainability → Easier to maintain/update queries than raw SQL.

✅ Integration with Laravel → Works smoothly with Eloquent ORM, migrations, transactions, etc.

Where to Use Query Builder?

• When you need custom complex queries that Eloquent ORM cannot handle easily.
• When performance is critical and you need optimized SQL queries.
• When you prefer a structured and safe alternative to raw SQL.
• Commonly used in repositories, services, and controllers.

Advantages of Query Builder