How to Check Your Laravel Version (5 Methods)

Knowing your Laravel version is essential when troubleshooting, installing packages, or following tutorials. This guide covers multiple methods to find your Laravel version quickly.

Method 1: Using Artisan Command (Most Common)

The quickest way to check your Laravel version is using the artisan command:

php artisan --version

Expected output:

Laravel Framework 11.0.8

Method 2: Using php artisan about

Available in Laravel 9.21 and later, this command shows comprehensive project information including PHP version, environment, and driver configurations:

php artisan about

Method 3: Check via Composer

Find installed Laravel version using Composer:

composer show laravel/framework

This displays detailed version information including latest stable release and dependencies.

Method 4: Access Programmatically in Code

You can retrieve the version inside your application:

echo app()->version();

Or using the App facade:

use Illuminate\Support\Facades\App;

echo App::version();

Method 5: Check composer.json

Open your project’s composer.json file and look for the Laravel framework requirement:

"require": {
    "laravel/framework": "^11.0"
}

The caret (^) means compatible with version 11.0 and above.

Method 6: Check Source Code

For the exact version constant, check the Application file:

vendor/laravel/framework/src/Illuminate/Foundation/Application.php

Look for the VERSION constant in the class.

Quick Reference Table

Pro Tips

• Always check Laravel version before installing packages to ensure compatibility
• Run composer update to get the latest compatible versions
• Use php artisan --verbose for additional debugging information

Happy coding!