What is the difference between Eloquent and Query Builder in Laravel?

In Laravel, Eloquent and Query Builder are two different approaches to interacting with databases.

Eloquent is Laravel’s implementation of the Active Record pattern, which allows you to work with database records as objects. With Eloquent, you define a model for each database table and then use methods on that model to retrieve, create, update, and delete records. For example, you might define a “User” model for a “users” table and then use methods like “User::all()” or “User::find($id)” to retrieve records. Eloquent provides a rich set of features, such as automatic timestamping, relationships between models, and query scopes, that make working with databases in Laravel more intuitive.

Query Builder, on the other hand, is a set of classes and methods that allow you to construct SQL queries programmatically. With Query Builder, you use methods like

DB::table('users')->select('name', 'email')->get();

to build and execute queries. Query Builder provides a more flexible approach to database interactions than Eloquent, allowing you to construct complex queries using conditions, joins, subqueries, and more.

The main difference between Eloquent and Query Builder is that Eloquent is an Object Relational Mapping (ORM) tool, which maps database tables to classes, and Query Builder is a tool for constructing SQL queries programmatically. Eloquent provides a more object-oriented approach to database interactions, while Query Builder provides a more SQL-centric approach.

Both Eloquent and Query Builder are powerful tools for working with databases in Laravel, and the choice of which to use depends on the specific requirements of your project. If you need to work with complex relationships between tables or want to take advantage of Eloquent’s built-in features like soft deletes, then Eloquent is a good choice. If you need to construct complex SQL queries that can’t be easily expressed in Eloquent, or want more fine-grained control over your queries, then Query Builder may be a better fit.