Introduction

Implementing a comment system is a common feature in web applications, and Laravel makes it easy to build one. In this step-by-step guide, we'll explore how to create a robust comment system in Laravel, allowing users to comment on posts or articles. We'll cover user authentication, database setup, routing, creating and displaying comments, and more.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following prerequisites:

• An existing Laravel project
• Basic knowledge of PHP and Laravel
• Composer installed

Step 1: Database Setup

Start by creating a database table for comments. Run the following Artisan command to generate a migration:

            
php artisan make:migration create_comments_table
            
        

In the migration file, define the structure of the comments table (e.g., user_id, post_id, content, timestamp, etc.). Then, run the migration to create the table:

            
php artisan migrate
            
        

Step 2: User Authentication

If your application doesn't have user authentication set up, you can use Laravel's built-in authentication scaffolding to create user registration and login features:

            
composer require laravel/ui
php artisan ui bootstrap --auth
            
        

Follow the prompts to generate authentication views and controllers.

Step 3: Create Comment Model

Create a Comment model using the Artisan command:

            
php artisan make:model Comment
            
        

In the model, define the relationships with users and posts, and configure mass-assignable fields.

Step 4: Routing

Define routes for creating, storing, and displaying comments in your routes file (e.g., `web.php`).

            
Route::resource('comments', 'CommentController');
            
        

Step 5: Create Comment Controller

Generate a CommentController using the Artisan command:

            
php artisan make:controller CommentController
            
        

In the controller, implement methods to store and display comments.

Step 6: Comment Form

Create a comment form in your Blade view to allow users to input their comments. Be sure to include the CSRF token and handle form submission in the CommentController.

Step 7: Display Comments

Retrieve and display comments on your posts or articles. You can use Eloquent relationships to fetch comments associated with each post.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've successfully created a comment system in Laravel. Users can now comment on posts, and their comments are stored in the database. You can further enhance this system with features like comment editing, deletion, and user notifications.