Laravel, a popular PHP framework, is known for its simplicity and elegance in web development. However, determining the exact Laravel version in use isn’t always as straightforward as it sounds, especially when juggling multiple environments, legacy codebases, or different deployment pipelines.
With each new release, Laravel introduces enhancements, bug fixes, and exciting features.
Developers often face challenges when working across different environments (e.g; local, staging, or production) where version inconsistencies can lead to confusing bugs or deployment issues. Managing multiple projects or legacy codebases only adds to the complexity.
Hence, developers must know which version of Laravel they are working with, as this information can affect the compatibility of packages, libraries, and the overall stability of their applications. Failing to keep track of versions can also impact upgrade paths and security patches.
This article will explore various methods to determine the Laravel version installed on your system no matter how simple or complex your setup may be.
You may want to revisit The Laravel Directory Structure for an overview of the key directories and their roles within a Laravel project.
Using the Laravel Artisan Command
One of the most straightforward ways to check the Laravel version is by using the Laravel Artisan command-line tool. Here’s how you can do it:
Using your terminal or command prompt, navigate to your Laravel project’s root directory and run the following command:
Use this command when you quickly need to verify which version of Laravel your project is running, especially before installing packages, applying updates, or deploying code to another environment. This command will display the Laravel version of your project.
For example, if you’re integrating a new package that only supports Laravel 10 and above, running php artisan –version lets you confirm compatibility upfront and avoid runtime issues later. It’s also a useful check after cloning a project from GitHub or switching between branches that might use different Laravel versions.
If you’re using Laravel 9.21 or later, you can also use the command:
This provides a more comprehensive overview of your application’s environment, including the Laravel version, PHP version, environment configuration, cache settings, and more. It’s especially helpful when diagnosing issues or verifying consistency across environments.
Using these commands helps ensure you know exactly what version you’re working with, which is essential for package compatibility and debugging.
Checking the Laravel Framework Application File
Laravel stores information about its version in a file Application.php within the framework’s core directory. You can use the cat command to view the contents of this file.
Navigate to your Laravel project’s root directory. Use the cat command to display the Laravel version:
cat vendor/laravel/framework/src/Illuminate/Foundation/Application.php | grep "const VERSION"
This command will output the Laravel version to the console.
It’s especially useful in situations where the Artisan CLI isn’t available. Such as inside minimal Docker containers, broken environments, or CI/CD pipelines where dependencies haven’t fully loaded.
For example, if your application is throwing version-related errors during automated testing and php artisan is failing to run, you can use this file-level method to quickly confirm whether a version mismatch is the root cause. It also helps when auditing legacy codebases or scripts without spinning up the full application.
const VERSION = '10.3.0';
Checking the Version Constraints in Composer.json File
Another way to determine the Laravel version is by inspecting the composer.json file in your Laravel project’s root directory. Composer uses the composer.json file to specify project dependencies.
Note that this file doesn’t show the exact version installed. It shows the version constraints defined for Laravel as a dependency.
Navigate to your Laravel project’s root directory. Open the composer.json file, look for the “require” section, and find the entry for Laravel which specifies a version range (e.g., “laravel/framework”: “^10.0”) rather than the precise version currently in use.
"require": { "php": "^8.1", "laravel/framework": "^10.0", }
In this case, ^10.0 indicates that the project is compatible with Laravel 10.0 and any future minor updates (e.g., 10.1, 10.2), but it does not confirm the exact version currently installed.
Use this method when you need a quick reference to see what Laravel version range the project is expected to work with, especially before pulling changes from a team member or deploying to a new environment.
For example, if you’re debugging a feature that behaves differently across Laravel versions, seeing a constraint like ^10.0 tells you the project isn’t supposed to run Laravel 11. However, to confirm the exact installed version, you’d still need to check composer.lock or run an Artisan command.
Composer.lock Method
Add: composer.lock method – this is the most reliable way to find exact installed versions and is completely missing from your article.
Laravel Version Troubleshooting
Add: Troubleshooting section addressing:
- Why different methods show different versions
- When to use each method
- Common command failures and solutions
Checking the Laravel Version via composer.lock (The Most Reliable Method)
While the composer.json file shows version constraints, thecomposer.lock file is the most reliable place to find the exact Laravel version currently installed in your project. This file records the specific versions of every dependency after Composer completes installation or updates.
When to use it:
Use this method when you need to confirm the precise Laravel version running in your environment, such as during deployment, debugging, or when managing multiple developers’ machines to ensure consistency.
Why it matters:
Using only composer.json may lead to assumptions about installed versions, especially when version constraints allow minor or patch-level upgrades. The composer.lock file, however, shows the resolved version that’s actually in use, eliminating guesswork and avoiding potential incompatibilities.
Version constraints in composer.json allow for flexibility, but the composer.lock locks your project to exact dependency versions, preventing unexpected upgrades or incompatibilities.
Here’s how to check:
Open the composer.lock file in your project’s root directory and search for laravel/framework. You’ll find an entry like this:
{"name": "laravel/framework", "version": "v10.3.0", ...}
Imagine your CI/CD pipeline fails because it’s running a different Laravel version than your local environment. Checking composer.lock confirms exactly which version Composer installed, allowing you to diagnose and resolve the mismatch quickly.
Laravel Version Troubleshooting
Managing Laravel versions across environments can be confusing because different methods may show different results. Here’s why, when to use each, and common troubleshooting tips.
Why different methods show different versions:
- php artisan –version and php artisan about report the version your application is currently running.
- Composer.json lists version constraints, not actual installed versions.
- Composer.lock shows the exact installed versions, but if outdated, it might not reflect your live environment.
Use Artisan commands for quick runtime checks, especially in active environments.
- Inspect composer.json when reviewing compatibility requirements or before installing/upgrading dependencies.
- Check composer.lock to confirm the exact installed versions, especially when troubleshooting dependency issues.
Common command failures and solutions:
- If php artisan commands fail, ensure dependencies are installed by running composer.install or composer.update.
- In broken or minimal environments (e.g., Docker containers), checking the Application.php file version constant or composer.lock might be the only option.
- Cache or config issues can cause wrong version info; try clearing caches with php artisan cache:clear or restarting the server.
A developer pulls a project from a repository and runs php artisan –version, but it fails due to missing dependencies. Instead of guessing, they check composer.lock to find the exact Laravel version and run composer install to sync dependencies, resolving the issue quickly.
Conclusion:
Knowing which version of Laravel is installed in your project is crucial for maintaining compatibility with packages and libraries, and keeping your application up-to-date with the latest features and security patches. By using the Laravel Artisan command, inspecting the Application.php file, or checking the composer.json file, you can easily determine the Laravel version you are working with. This information will help you make informed decisions when developing and maintaining your Laravel applications.
