Laravel 12: What’s New and Why It Matters for Developers

Laravel 12

Laravel 12 has arrived, bringing a host of exciting updates that continue to refine and elevate the Laravel ecosystem. This release introduces new starter kits for React, Vue, and Livewire, making it easier than ever to kickstart modern web applications. Alongside these kits, Laravel 12 integrates WorkOS AuthKit for enhanced authentication, offering social login, passkeys, and SSO support. These features, combined with improved concurrency handling, validation security, and request merging, make Laravel 12 a powerhouse for developers.

Whether you're upgrading from Laravel 11 or starting a new project, Laravel 12 equips you with the tools to build robust, scalable, and secure applications with unparalleled efficiency. In this blog, we’ll explore the standout features of Laravel 12 and why they matter for developers. Let’s dive in!

Laravel 12 Version & Compatibility

Laravel 12 was officially released on February 24, 2025, and is compatible with PHP versions 8.2 to 8.4. Staying up-to-date ensures better performance, security, and long-term compatibility with modern PHP features.

How to Upgrade from Laravel 11 to 12

Step 1: Update Laravel Installer

Run the following command to update your Laravel installer globally:

                                    
                                        composer global update laravel/installer                                        
                                    
                                

Step 2: Update Dependencies

Modify your composer.json file:

                                    
                                        "require": {
                                            "laravel/framework": "^12.0"
                                        }                                      
                                    
                                

Step 3: Run Composer Update

Execute the update command:

                                    
                                        composer update                                     
                                    
                                

After updating, test your application to ensure smooth compatibility.

Watch Now:  https://youtube.com/shorts/w5LwyV5Oc8I?si=2f4ulj21cvKf2NXr 

What’s New in Laravel 12?

1. Carbon 3 Support

Laravel 12 now requires Carbon 3.x, dropping support for Carbon 2.x. This upgrade ensures better performance and new date/time manipulation features.

2. Improved Concurrency Handling

Laravel 12 enhances concurrency management by preserving associative array keys when using Concurrency::run(), making it easier to track concurrent operations.

Example:

                                    
                                        $result = Concurrency::run([
                                            'addition' => fn () => 5 + 5,
                                            'multiplication' => fn () => 2 * 2,
                                        ]);
                                        
                                        // Returns: ['addition' => 10, 'multiplication' => 4]                                   
                                    
                                

3. Nested Array Request Merging

Laravel 12 allows merging nested array data using dot notation within the mergeIfMissing() method, ensuring cleaner request data structures.

Example:

                                    
                                        $request->mergeIfMissing([
                                            'user.last_name' => ' Laravel 12 upgrade',
                                        ]);
                                        // Equivalent to: ['user' => ['last_name' => ' Laravel 12 upgrade']]                                 
                                    
                                

4. Image Validation Now Excludes SVGs

For enhanced security, Laravel 12 no longer allows SVGs by default in the image validation rule. To permit SVGs, you must explicitly allow them.

Example:

                                    
                                        'photo' => 'required|image:allow_svg'
                                        // Or using File validation:
                                        'photo' => ['required', File::image(allowSvg: true)],                             
                                    
                                

5. New Application Starter Kits

1. React and Vue Starter Kits

   Laravel 12 introduces modern React and Vue starter kits, featuring:

   • Inertia.js 2 – Server-driven UI rendering.
   • TypeScript – Improved development experience with static typing.
   • shadcn/ui – A modern UI component library.
   • Tailwind CSS – Sleek, responsive design.

   These starter kits streamline authentication and UI integration, reducing development time.

2. Livewire Starter Kit with Flux UI

   For Livewire users, Laravel 12 includes:

   • Flux UI – A Tailwind-based UI library for Livewire applications.
   • Laravel Volt – Optimized real-time application development.

   This kit simplifies building dynamic, real-time applications with minimal configuration.

3. Built-in Authentication & WorkOS AuthKit

   All starter kits (React, Vue, and Livewire) come with built-in authentication, including:

   • User login, registration, and password reset
   • Email verification
   • Session management

   Additionally, WorkOS AuthKit-powered variants provide:

   • Social authentication (Google, GitHub, etc.)
   • Passkeys authentication for passwordless logins
   • Single Sign-On (SSO) support

   WorkOS offers free authentication for up to 1 million monthly active users, making it ideal for startups and enterprises alike.

4. Laravel Breeze & Jetstream Phased Out

   With the launch of these new starter kits, Laravel Breeze and Jetstream will no longer receive updates. The shift to modern technologies ensures a more streamlined authentication and UI experience.

Read Also: Build Scalable Laravel 12 Apps with Livewire Starter Kit, Flux UI & WorkOS AuthKit

Why Laravel 12 Matters for Developers

Laravel 12 continues to push the boundaries of PHP development by improving performance, security, and developer experience. Key benefits include:

• Faster development with modern starter kits
• Improved security with stricter validation
• Seamless concurrency handling
• Better request and data management

For developers building scalable and secure applications, Laravel 12 is an essential upgrade.