How can I use Laravel's query builder effectively?

How can I use Laravel's query builder effectively?

Laravel's query builder provides a fluent interface for building SQL queries. You can use methods like select(), where(), and orderBy() to construct your queries.

Can you show me an example of a complex query using the query builder?

Sure! Here's an example: DB::table('users')->where('active', 1)->orderBy('created_at', 'desc')->get(); This retrieves all active users ordered by their creation date.

What if I want to join two tables?

You can use the join() method. For example: DB::table('posts')->join('users', 'posts.user_id', '=', 'users.id')->select('posts.*', 'users.name')->get(); This joins the posts with the users table.

Is it possible to use raw expressions in the query builder?

Yes, you can use DB::raw() for raw expressions. For instance: DB::table('users')->select(DB::raw('count(*) as user_count'))->get(); This counts the number of users.