Laravel Performance Optimization: Cache, OPcache & Query Tuning (2026)
While Laravel delivers outstanding developer productivity, unoptimized database queries, disabled bytecode caching, or missing route caches can introduce high latency. This technical guide walks through optimizing Laravel 12 and 11 applications to handle thousands of requests with minimal TTFB.
📌 Key Topics in This Guide
1. Production Artisan Caching
php artisan optimize
2. PHP OPcache Configuration
opcache.enable=1 opcache.memory_consumption=256 opcache.max_accelerated_files=20000 opcache.validate_timestamps=0
3. Eliminating Eloquent N+1 Query Bottlenecks
Always eager-load relationships using with() rather than querying inside loops:
$posts = Post::with(['author', 'comments'])->paginate(20);