Laravel Clean Architecture

Laravel Clean Architecture

Priority: P1 (HIGH)

Workflow: Add Domain Feature

1. Create domain folder — app/Domains/Order/{Actions,DTOs,Contracts}/.
2. Define DTO — Create readonly class with typed constructor properties.
3. Create contract — Define repository interface in Contracts/.
4. Implement repository — Build Eloquent implementation; bind in AppServiceProvider.
5. Write Action class — Single-responsibility use-case logic consuming DTO.
6. Verify bindings — Run php artisan tinker and resolve interface to confirm DI works.

Action + DTO Example

See implementation examples for Action class with DTO and domain structure patterns.

Implementation Guidelines

Domain-Driven Design (DDD)

• Grouping: Organize code in app/Domains/Order/{Actions,DTOs,Contracts}/. Group by business domain (User, Order, Payment) — not by type (Controllers, Models).
• Core Models: Keep standard Eloquent models in app/Models/.
• Separation: Never put Eloquent queries in controllers; delegate to Action classes for use-case logic.

Data Transfer Objects (DTOs)

• Immutability: Use readonly class (PHP 8.2+) or readonly properties (PHP 8.1+). DTOs cross boundaries — pass between layers instead of raw arrays or Eloquent models.

Repository Pattern & Decoupling

• Interfaces: Create Contracts/OrderRepository interface and implement EloquentOrderRepository.
• Binding: Bind interfaces to implementations in AppServiceProvider via $this->app->bind(OrderRepository::class, EloquentOrderRepository::class).
• Usage: Inject interfaces into your actions/services.
• Layer Flow: Controller → Action → Repository Interface → Eloquent. DTOs cross boundaries at every layer transition.

Anti-Patterns

• No Eloquent in Controllers: Bridge layers with DTOs and Actions.
• No raw arrays across layers: Use typed readonly DTOs.
• No God Services: Break into single-responsibility Actions.
• No concrete dependencies: Depend on Interfaces, not implementations.

References

• DDD & Repository Patterns

Boundary checklist

• Keep controllers free of Eloquent queries and pass DTOs across the boundary between HTTP and domain layers.
• Inject OrderRepository contracts into Actions; bind them in the container instead of creating globals or grouping code only by technical type.
• Prefer immutable transfer data or readonly DTOs to prevent accidental mutation.

Canonical response anchors

When this skill applies, preserve the following domain terminology or equivalent concrete examples in the answer when relevant:

• bind them,Bind the contract,container bindings
• boundary between HTTP,cross-layer API,pass it to
• controllers free of queries,no Eloquent query,Keep controllers free
• inject OrderRepository,inject OrderRepository,depends on the Action
• instead of creating global,rather than by technical type
• no Eloquent query,contain no Eloquent,free of queries
• prevents accidental mutation,immutable transfer data,readonly DTO