Deleting files in Laravel - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Deleting Files in Laravel

📖 Scenario: You are building a Laravel application that manages user-uploaded images. Sometimes users want to delete their images to free up space or remove outdated content.

🎯 Goal: Build a simple Laravel controller method that deletes a specific file from the storage folder when requested.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a variable holding the file path to delete

Set a configuration variable for the storage disk

Use Laravel's Storage facade to delete the file

Return a success message after deletion

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Deleting files is common in web apps that manage user uploads, like profile pictures or documents.

💼 Career

Backend developers often need to manage file storage and deletion securely and efficiently using Laravel's built-in tools.

1

Set the file path to delete

Create a variable called $filePath and set it to the string 'images/user1.jpg' representing the file to delete.

Laravel

<?php

namespace App\Http\Controllers;

use Illuminate\Http\Request;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Storage;

class FileController extends Controller
{
    public function deleteFile()
    {
        // Create $filePath variable here
        // Your code here
    }
}

Need a hint?

Use $filePath = 'images/user1.jpg'; inside the deleteFile method.

2

Set the storage disk configuration

Add a variable called $disk and set it to the string 'public' to specify the storage disk where the file is located.

Laravel

<?php

namespace App\Http\Controllers;

use Illuminate\Http\Request;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Storage;

class FileController extends Controller
{
    public function deleteFile()
    {
        $filePath = 'images/user1.jpg';
        // Create $disk variable here
        // Your code here
    }
}

Need a hint?

Set $disk = 'public'; inside the deleteFile method after $filePath.

3

Delete the file using Storage facade

Use Laravel's Storage facade with the disk method and delete method to delete the file at $filePath on the $disk. Write the line: Storage::disk($disk)->delete($filePath);

Laravel

<?php

namespace App\Http\Controllers;

use Illuminate\Http\Request;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Storage;

class FileController extends Controller
{
    public function deleteFile()
    {
        $filePath = 'images/user1.jpg';
        $disk = 'public';
        // Delete the file here
        // Your code here
    }
}

Need a hint?

Call Storage::disk($disk)->delete($filePath); to remove the file.

4

Return a success message

Add a return statement that returns the string 'File deleted successfully.' after deleting the file.

Laravel

delete($filePath);
        // Return success message here
        // Your code here
    }
}

Need a hint?

Use return 'File deleted successfully.'; after deleting the file.