Introduction
Laravel is a versatile PHP framework that provides tools to implement common development needs with ease. Among its many features, Notifications vs Events is a key comparison that highlights two powerful systems used to handle communication and trigger actions. While both have overlapping use cases, they serve different purposes and are tailored for distinct scenarios.
This guide will provide an in-depth look at Laravel Notifications vs Events, their differences, and examples of when and how to use each.
1. Understanding Laravel Notifications
Laravel Notifications are a feature designed to send updates or messages to users. Notifications are commonly used to inform users about important events, such as order confirmations, password resets, or system alerts.
Laravel supports sending notifications via multiple channels, including:
- SMS (via Twilio or similar services)
- Slack
- Database
- Push notifications
Key Features of Notifications
- Multiple delivery channels.
- Easy integration with user models.
- Predefined Notification class for rapid development.
Example: Sending a Notification via Email
Here’s a step-by-step implementation of a Laravel Notification:
Step 1: Generate a Notification Class
php artisan make:notification OrderShipped
Step 2: Define Notification Logic
Edit the OrderShipped class located in the App\Notifications folder:
<?php
namespace App\Notifications;
use Illuminate\Bus\Queueable;
use Illuminate\Notifications\Messages\MailMessage;
use Illuminate\Notifications\Notification;
class OrderShipped extends Notification
{
use Queueable;
private $order;
public function __construct($order)
{
$this->order = $order;
}
public function via($notifiable)
{
return ['mail'];
}
public function toMail($notifiable)
{
return (new MailMessage)
->line('Your order has been shipped.')
->action('View Order', url('/orders/' . $this->order->id))
->line('Thank you for shopping with us!');
}
}
Step 3: Trigger the Notification
You can send a notification to a user as follows:
use App\Models\User;
use App\Notifications\OrderShipped;
// Retrieve a user and order instance
$user = User::find(1);
$order = Order::find(1001);
// Send the notification
$user->notify(new OrderShipped($order));
When to Use Notifications
- To inform users about events that directly concern them.
- When you need multi-channel delivery (e.g., Email and SMS).
- For system alerts or activity summaries.
2. Understanding Laravel Events
Laravel Events are designed for a broader scope of use cases. They are part of the Observer Pattern and allow you to define an event-action relationship, where multiple listeners can respond to a single event. This is particularly useful for decoupling business logic and triggering multiple actions.
Key Features of Events
- Decouple the logic of triggering and handling actions.
- Enable multiple listeners for a single event.
- Facilitate asynchronous handling via queues.
Example: Triggering an Event
1. Generate an Event and Listener
php artisan make:event OrderPlaced
php artisan make:listener SendOrderConfirmation --event=OrderPlaced
2. Define the Event
Edit the OrderPlaced event in App\Events:
<?php
namespace App\Events;
use Illuminate\Foundation\Events\Dispatchable;
use Illuminate\Queue\SerializesModels;
use App\Models\Order;
class OrderPlaced
{
use Dispatchable, SerializesModels;
public $order;
public function __construct(Order $order)
{
$this->order = $order;
}
}
3. Define the Listener
Edit the SendOrderConfirmation listener in App\Listeners:
<?php
namespace App\Listeners;
use App\Events\OrderPlaced;
use Illuminate\Contracts\Queue\ShouldQueue;
class SendOrderConfirmation implements ShouldQueue
{
public function __construct()
{
//
}
public function handle(OrderPlaced $event)
{
// Send email or perform an action
\Mail::to($event->order->user->email)->send(
new \App\Mail\OrderConfirmation($event->order)
);
}
}
4. Register the Event and Listener
Register the event and listener in EventServiceProvider:
protected $listen = [
\App\Events\OrderPlaced::class => [
\App\Listeners\SendOrderConfirmation::class,
],
];
5. Trigger the Event
In your application logic:
use App\Events\OrderPlaced;
$order = Order::find(1001);
event(new OrderPlaced($order));
3. Comparing Notifications and Events
| Feature | Notifications | Events |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | User communication and alerts. | Decoupling business logic and system tasks. |
| Multi-channel Support | Built-in for email, SMS, Slack, etc. | Requires custom implementation for each channel. |
| Multiple Listeners | Not supported. | Fully supported with multiple listeners. |
| Queuing | Supported via ShouldQueue interface. | Supported via ShouldQueue for listeners. |
| Ease of Use | Straightforward for sending messages to users. | Requires setup for event-listener binding. |
4. Choosing Between Notifications and Events
Use Notifications When:
- You need to inform users directly.
- Multi-channel communication is required (e.g., Email + SMS).
- The logic is primarily about sending messages or alerts.
Use Events When:
- You need to decouple complex application logic.
- Multiple actions need to respond to a single trigger.
- Tasks like logging, auditing, or database operations need to be tied to system events.
5. Combining Notifications and Events
In many scenarios, you may find it useful to combine Notifications and Events. For example, an OrderPlaced event can trigger multiple listeners, one of which sends a Notification to the user.
Example: Using Events to Trigger Notifications
1. Modify Listener to Notify User
namespace App\Listeners;
use App\Events\OrderPlaced;
use App\Notifications\OrderShipped;
class SendOrderNotification
{
public function handle(OrderPlaced $event)
{
$event->order->user->notify(new OrderShipped($event->order));
}
}
2. Register the Listener
protected $listen = [
\App\Events\OrderPlaced::class => [
\App\Listeners\SendOrderNotification::class,
],
];
3. Trigger the Event
As before:
$order = Order::find(1001);
event(new OrderPlaced($order));
Now, when the OrderPlaced event is triggered, the SendOrderNotification listener sends a notification to the user.
Conclusion
Laravel Notifications and Events are both powerful tools, each designed for specific use cases. Notifications are ideal for direct user communication across multiple channels, while Events are better suited for decoupling application logic and enabling complex workflows. By understanding their differences and leveraging their strengths, developers can build robust, scalable, and maintainable applications.
With examples provided, you can now implement Notifications and Events confidently in your Laravel projects, use them to your specific needs. Also there are many very useful packages available in Laravel which boost your development.