Daycode

Laravel is famous for making developers' lives easier with elegant patterns and expressive syntax. But when it comes to building flexible and reusable workflows, many overlook one of Laravel's hidden gems: pipelines. Pipelines help you process data through a series of customizable stages—making your code clean, testable, and easy to maintain.

In this article, we will unlock the magic of Laravel pipelines. We'll cover what pipelines are, why they matter, and how you can master them to build powerful, modular systems in your Laravel apps.

Understanding Laravel Pipelines

What Are Pipelines?

At its core, a pipeline is a way to pass data through a series of steps (also called pipes) where each step performs an operation and passes the result to the next step. This pattern is perfect for situations where you have a sequence of transformations or checks to apply.

Laravel's Illuminate\Pipeline\Pipeline class makes implementing this pattern effortless.

Basic Example of Using Pipelines

Here’s a simple example of processing a user input through multiple pipes:

use Illuminate\Pipeline\Pipeline;

$data = app(Pipeline::class)
    ->send($input)
    ->through([
        \App\Pipes\TrimStrings::class,
        \App\Pipes\ConvertEmptyStringsToNull::class,
        \App\Pipes\ValidateData::class,
    ])
    ->thenReturn();

Each class in the through() array will have a handle method that modifies the data.

When to Use Pipelines

1. Complex Data Processing

If you have a chain of transformations (like sanitizing, validating, formatting), pipelines keep the logic modular and clean.

2. Conditional Flows

Pipelines can dynamically adjust which pipes to run, making them great for workflows that change based on input.

3. Alternative to Middleware for Non-HTTP Logic

Think of pipelines like middleware, but for any data—payment processing, file parsing, order fulfillment, and more.

Best Practices for Laravel Pipelines

1. Keep Pipes Focused

Each pipe should do one thing well—trim, validate, or transform. This keeps them reusable.

2. Use Dependency Injection

Leverage Laravel's container by type-hinting dependencies in the handle method.

3. Avoid Side Effects

Pipelines are most powerful when they’re predictable. Avoid mutating global state or causing side effects inside pipes.

Conclusion

Laravel pipelines offer a powerful pattern to build clean and flexible workflows in your apps. By breaking logic into small, composable pieces, pipelines make your code easier to maintain, test, and extend. Whether you're processing user input or orchestrating complex business flows, mastering pipelines will take your Laravel skills to the next level.

So next time you find yourself with chained logic, remember: Laravel pipelines are your best friend.

"Keep your code flowing—like a pipeline." — Daycode

References

• Illuminate Pipeline Source Code