First Laravel application - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ component_behavior

intermediate

What does this route return?

Consider this Laravel route defined in routes/web.php. What will the browser display when you visit /hello?

Laravel

<?php

use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Route;

Route::get('/hello', function () {
    return 'Hello, Laravel!';
});

A The text 'Hello, Laravel!'

B A blank page

C A JSON object with key 'message' and value 'Hello, Laravel!'

D A 404 Not Found error

💡 Hint

Look at what the route's closure returns directly.

The route returns a plain string, so the browser will display that text exactly.

📝 Syntax

intermediate

Identify the syntax error in this controller method

Look at this Laravel controller method. Which option correctly identifies the syntax error?

Laravel

<?php

namespace App\Http\Controllers;

use Illuminate\Http\Request;

class WelcomeController extends Controller
{
    public function index()
    {
        return view('welcome');
    }
}

A Wrong namespace declaration

B Missing parentheses in method declaration

C Incorrect use statement for Request

D Missing semicolon after return statement

💡 Hint

Check the end of the return statement line.

In PHP, each statement must end with a semicolon. The return statement is missing it.

❓ state_output

advanced

What is the output of this Blade template?

Given this Blade template resources/views/greeting.blade.php, what will be rendered in the browser?

Laravel

@php
    $name = 'Alice';
@endphp

<h1>Hello, {{ $name }}!</h1>
@if(strlen($name) > 3)
    <p>Welcome to Laravel.</p>
@endif

A <h1>Hello, {{ $name }}!</h1><p>Welcome to Laravel.</p>

B <h1>Hello, Alice!</h1>

C <h1>Hello, Alice!</h1><p>Welcome to Laravel.</p>

D Syntax error in Blade template

💡 Hint

Check how Blade outputs variables and evaluates conditions.

Blade replaces {{ $name }} with 'Alice' and includes the paragraph because the name length is greater than 3.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Why does this route cause a 500 error?

This route causes a server error when accessed. What is the cause?

Laravel

<?php

use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Route;

Route::get('/user/{id}', function ($id) {
    $user = User::find($id);
    return view('user.profile', ['user' => $user]);
});

A The view file 'user.profile' does not exist

B The User model is not imported or defined

C The route URL is missing a trailing slash

D The route method should be post, not get

💡 Hint

Check if all classes used are properly imported.

The code uses User::find but does not import the User model, causing a class not found error.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

What happens when you run this Artisan command?

You run php artisan make:controller ProductController --resource. What does this command do?

A Creates a controller with methods for all RESTful actions

B Creates a controller with only an index method

C Creates a model named ProductController

D Deletes the existing ProductController if it exists

💡 Hint

Think about what the --resource flag means in Laravel controllers.

The --resource flag generates a controller with methods like index, create, store, show, edit, update, and destroy.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of the routes/web.php file in a new Laravel application?

easy

A. To configure server settings for deployment

B. To store database connection settings

C. To write CSS styles for the application

D. To define the URLs and what they should return when visited

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of routes in Laravel

   Routes tell Laravel which URL should show which content or run which code.

2. Step 2: Identify what routes/web.php does

   This file is where you write those URL rules for web pages.

3. Final Answer:

   To define the URLs and what they should return when visited -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Routes = URL rules [OK]

Hint: Routes file maps URLs to responses [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing routes with database settings
• Thinking routes handle CSS or server configs
• Assuming routes are for backend logic only

2. Which command starts the built-in Laravel development server?

easy

A. php artisan serve

B. php serve artisan

C. php artisan start

D. php start artisan

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the Laravel command to run the server

   The correct command is php artisan serve to start the local server.

2. Step 2: Check the options for correct syntax

   Only php artisan serve matches the exact command syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   php artisan serve -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Start server = php artisan serve [OK]

Hint: Remember: 'serve' runs the server in Laravel [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Swapping command order
• Using 'start' instead of 'serve'
• Adding extra words in the command

3. Given this route in routes/web.php:

Route::get('/', function () {
    return 'Hello, Laravel!';
});

What will you see when you visit http://localhost:8000/ in your browser?

medium

A. A blank page

B. An error message

C. The text 'Hello, Laravel!'

D. A JSON object

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the route definition

   The route listens for a GET request at '/' and returns the string 'Hello, Laravel!'.

2. Step 2: Predict the browser output

   Visiting the root URL will display exactly the returned string as plain text.

3. Final Answer:

   The text 'Hello, Laravel!' -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Route returns string = 'Hello, Laravel!' [OK]

Hint: Route returns string shown in browser [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting JSON or HTML page instead of plain text
• Thinking it shows an error or blank page
• Confusing route URL with different path

4. What is wrong with this route code in routes/web.php?

Route::get('/', function {
    return 'Welcome!';
});

medium

A. Missing semicolon after return statement

B. Missing parentheses after function keyword

C. Route method should be post, not get

D. The string should be in double quotes

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the function syntax

   Anonymous functions in PHP require parentheses even if no parameters are passed.

2. Step 2: Identify the syntax error

   The code misses parentheses after function, causing a syntax error.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing parentheses after function keyword -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Anonymous function needs () [OK]

Hint: Always add () after function for anonymous functions [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting parentheses after function
• Thinking semicolon is missing after return
• Confusing HTTP methods get/post
• Believing string quotes cause error

5. You want to create a new Laravel route that returns the current year dynamically. Which code snippet correctly does this in routes/web.php?

hard

A. Route::get('/year', function () {
return date('Y');
});

B. Route::get('/year', function () {
echo "date('Y')";
});

C. Route::get('/year', function () {
return "Year is date('Y')";
});

D. Route::get('/year', function () {
return date(d);
});

Solution

1. Step 1: Use PHP date function correctly

   The date('Y') function returns the current year as a string.

2. Step 2: Return the year string properly in the route

   Using return date('Y'); inside the route's closure sends the year as response.

3. Step 3: Identify errors in other options

   The echo option outputs literal "date('Y')"; another returns literal "Year is date('Y')"; the last uses date(d) without quotes, returning the day of the month instead of the year.

4. Final Answer:

   Route::get('/year', function () { return date('Y'); }); -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Return date('Y') for current year [OK]

Hint: Use return with date('Y') inside route function [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using echo instead of return in route
• Forgetting quotes around 'Y' in date()
• Returning a string that does not evaluate PHP
• Confusing syntax for PHP date function