How to Set Up Laravel with PostgreSQL (Step-by-Step Guide)

In this article, we’ll focus on how to set up a new Laravel application with PostgreSQL as the database.

Before we dive into the setup, let’s briefly understand what PostgreSQL and Laravel are.

What is PostgreSQL?

PostgreSQL is a powerful, open-source object-relational database management system (ORDBMS). It extends SQL (Structured Query Language) with advanced features designed to safely store and scale complex data workloads. PostgreSQL is often preferred for its reliability, support for JSON, and ability to handle large applications.

What is Laravel?

Laravel is a PHP web development framework built for web artisans. It can be used to build full-stack applications and APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that integrate with JavaScript libraries such as React or Vue.

By default, Laravel supports multiple databases. Depending on your project requirements, you can choose any of the following:

1. MySQL
2. SQLite
3. PostgreSQL
4. SQL Server

Step-by-Step Setup Guide

1. Install PostgreSQL

   Visit the official PostgreSQL website and download the version best suited for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).

   During installation:

   • Create a password for the default postgres user.
   • Leave the default port as 5432.
   • Ensure pgAdmin is installed (it comes bundled by default).

2. Enable PostgreSQL in PHP

   Locate your php.ini file (for me, it’s inside Laragon). Search for these two lines and uncomment them (remove the leading ;):
   

   extension=pgsql
   extension=pdo_pgsql
   

3. Create a Database in pgAdmin

   • Open pgAdmin.
   • Connect to the server (enter the password you set for the postgres user).
   • Right-click on Databases → Create → Database.
   • Name your database, e.g., laravel_db.

4. Create a New Laravel Application

   Open your terminal and run the following:
   

   cd C:\laragon\www
   composer create-project laravel/laravel laravel_pg
   
   

5. Configure the .env File

   

6. Run Database Migrations

   In your terminal, navigate to the project folder and run:
   

   php artisan migrate
   
   

   If successful, you’ll see messages like:
   

   Migrating: 2014_10_12_000000_create_users_table
   Migrated:  2014_10_12_000000_create_users_table
   
   

7. Serve the Application

   Finally, start the development server:
   

   php artisan serve
   
   

   Visit http://127.0.0.1:8000 in your browser to confirm your Laravel application is running with PostgreSQL.

Conclusion

You’ve successfully set up a Laravel application with PostgreSQL.

From here, you can begin building models, controllers, and APIs backed by PostgreSQL. In upcoming tutorials, we’ll explore how to configure relationships, authentication, and advanced PostgreSQL features inside Laravel.

Comments

[Christian Onyeka]

Nice read Emmanuel....thanks a lot

[Emmanuel sofuwa]

thanks for reading through