How do I make global helper functions in laravel 5?

An easy and efficient way of creating a global functions file is to autoload it directly from Composer. The autoload section of composer accepts a files array that is automatically loaded.

1. Create a functions.php file wherever you like. In this example, we are going to create in inside app/Helpers.

2. Add your functions, but do not add a class or namespace.

   <?php
   
   function global_function_example($str)
   {
      return 'A Global Function with '. $str;
   }
   

3. In composer.json inside the autoload section add the following line:

   "files": ["app/Helpers/functions.php"]
   

   Example for Laravel 5:

   "autoload": {
       "classmap": [
           "database"
       ],
       "psr-4": {
           "App\\": "app/"
       },
       "files": ["app/Helpers/functions.php"] // <-- Add this line
   },
   

4. Run composer dump-autoload

Done! You may now access global_function_example('hello world') form any part of your application including Blade views.

Create a new file in your app/Helpers directory name it AnythingHelper.php An example of my helper is :

<?php
function getDomesticCities()
{
$result = \App\Package::where('type', '=', 'domestic')
    ->groupBy('from_city')
    ->get(['from_city']);

return $result;
}

generate a service provider for your helper by following command

php artisan make:provider HelperServiceProvider

in the register function of your newly generated HelperServiceProvider.php add following code

require_once app_path('Helpers/AnythingHelper.php');

now in your config/app.php load this service provider and you are done

'App\Providers\HelperServiceProvider',