How do I know if Laravel is installed?

There are several ways to check if Laravel 12 is installed and working correctly on your system.

Method 1: Artisan CLI

Run the following command in your project directory:

php artisan --version

You should see output like:

Laravel Framework 12.x

Method 2: Composer

Check the installed Laravel package and version using Composer:

composer show laravel/framework

This lists the Laravel framework version installed in your project.

Method 3: Development Server / Welcome Page

Start the development server:

php artisan serve

Open http://127.0.0.1:8000 in your browser. Seeing the Laravel welcome page confirms that the installation is successful.

Method 4: Global Laravel Installer (Optional)

If you installed the global Laravel installer, check its version:

laravel --version

This confirms that the global installer is available, but not the Laravel framework itself.

Pro-Tips for Beginners

• Always run commands inside your Laravel project directory to check the framework version.
• If using Windows PowerShell, run it as Administrator to avoid execution policy issues.
• Composer is a reliable way to check installed packages and their versions.
• Seeing the Laravel welcome page is the simplest confirmation that everything is set up correctly.