Logging configuration in Laravel

Introduction

Logging helps you keep track of what your Laravel app is doing. It records errors and important events so you can fix problems and understand app behavior.

When you want to record errors to find and fix bugs.

When you need to track user actions for security or auditing.

When you want to monitor app performance or unusual activity.

When debugging issues in development or production environments.

When you want to save logs to different places like files, databases, or external services.

Syntax

Laravel

config/logging.php

This file controls how Laravel logs messages.

You can set log channels, formats, and storage locations here.

Examples

Sets the default log channel. 'stack' means it uses multiple channels together.

Laravel

'default' => env('LOG_CHANNEL', 'stack'),

Defines a single file log channel that writes all logs to one file.

Laravel

'channels' => [
    'single' => [
        'driver' => 'single',
        'path' => storage_path('logs/laravel.log'),
        'level' => 'debug',
    ],
],

Defines a daily log channel that creates a new log file each day and keeps logs for 14 days.

Laravel

'channels' => [
    'daily' => [
        'driver' => 'daily',
        'path' => storage_path('logs/laravel.log'),
        'level' => 'info',
        'days' => 14,
    ],
],

Sample Program

This config sets the default log to 'stack' which sends logs to both a single file and Slack for critical errors.

Laravel

<?php

return [
    'default' => env('LOG_CHANNEL', 'stack'),

    'channels' => [
        'stack' => [
            'driver' => 'stack',
            'channels' => ['single', 'slack'],
            'ignore_exceptions' => false,
        ],

        'single' => [
            'driver' => 'single',
            'path' => storage_path('logs/laravel.log'),
            'level' => 'debug',
        ],

        'slack' => [
            'driver' => 'slack',
            'url' => env('LOG_SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL'),
            'username' => 'Laravel Log',
            'emoji' => ':boom:',
            'level' => 'critical',
        ],
    ],
];

Important Notes

Use the .env file to set LOG_CHANNEL and LOG_SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL for easy changes without editing code.

Log levels include debug, info, notice, warning, error, critical, alert, emergency.

Stack channels let you send logs to multiple places at once.

Summary

Logging configuration controls where and how Laravel saves logs.

You can log to files, Slack, databases, and more using channels.

Use the default channel to set the main logging method for your app.