How to Schedule Tasks in Laravel: Simple Guide

In Laravel, you schedule tasks by defining them in the app/Console/Kernel.php file inside the schedule method using the Schedule class. Then, you run the Laravel scheduler via a single cron entry that calls php artisan schedule:run every minute.

Syntax

Laravel uses the schedule method in app/Console/Kernel.php to define scheduled tasks. You use the $schedule object to specify commands or closures and set their frequency.

• $schedule->command('command:name'): Runs an Artisan command.
• ->daily(), ->hourly(), ->everyMinute(): Set how often the task runs.
• ->call(function() { ... }): Runs a closure instead of a command.

Finally, you must add a cron job on your server to run php artisan schedule:run every minute to trigger Laravel's scheduler.

php

protected function schedule(Schedule $schedule)
{
    $schedule->command('emails:send')->daily();
    $schedule->call(function () {
        // Task code here
    })->hourly();
}

Example

This example schedules a custom Artisan command report:generate to run daily at midnight and a closure task to run every five minutes.

php

<?php

namespace AppConsole;

use IlluminateConsoleScheduling\Schedule;
use IlluminateFoundationConsoleKernel as ConsoleKernel;

class Kernel extends ConsoleKernel
{
    protected function schedule(Schedule $schedule)
    {
        // Run custom command daily at midnight
        $schedule->command('report:generate')->dailyAt('00:00');

        // Run closure every 5 minutes
        $schedule->call(function () {
            // Example task: log current time
            Log::info('Scheduled task ran at ' . now());
        })->everyFiveMinutes();
    }

    protected function commands()
    {
        $this->load(__DIR__.'/Commands');
    }
}

// On your server, add this cron entry:
// * * * * * cd /path-to-your-project && php artisan schedule:run >> /dev/null 2>&1

Output

No direct output; tasks run silently. Logs will show 'Scheduled task ran at [timestamp]' every 5 minutes.

Common Pitfalls

• Forgetting the cron job: Laravel scheduler needs a cron entry running php artisan schedule:run every minute; without it, tasks won't run.
• Not registering commands: Custom commands must be registered in app/Console/Kernel.php or auto-discovered.
• Incorrect time zones: Scheduler uses the server time zone; set timezone in config/app.php if needed.
• Running heavy tasks synchronously: Use queues or async jobs for long tasks to avoid blocking.

bash

/* Wrong: No cron job set, tasks never run */
// No server cron entry for schedule:run

/* Right: Add cron job */
// * * * * * cd /path-to-project && php artisan schedule:run >> /dev/null 2>&1

Quick Reference

Method	Description	Example Usage
command('name')	Schedule an Artisan command	$schedule->command('emails:send')->daily();
call(closure)	Schedule a closure task	$schedule->call(function () { ... })->hourly();
daily()	Run task once daily at midnight	$schedule->command('task')->daily();
dailyAt('HH:MM')	Run task daily at specific time	$schedule->command('task')->dailyAt('13:00');
hourly()	Run task every hour	$schedule->command('task')->hourly();
everyMinute()	Run task every minute	$schedule->command('task')->everyMinute();
everyFiveMinutes()	Run task every 5 minutes	$schedule->command('task')->everyFiveMinutes();

Key Takeaways

Define scheduled tasks inside the schedule() method in app/Console/Kernel.php using the $schedule object.

Add a single cron job on your server to run 'php artisan schedule:run' every minute to trigger all scheduled tasks.

Use built-in frequency methods like daily(), hourly(), and everyFiveMinutes() to control task timing.

Register custom Artisan commands properly to ensure they can be scheduled.

Be mindful of server time zones and long-running tasks to avoid scheduling issues.