Building a Multi-Tenant Application with Laravel 8 with code and example

Published on : March 26,2023

A multi-tenant application is a software application that serves multiple customers, known as tenants, on a single instance of the application. This is achieved by isolating the data and resources of each tenant, while still sharing the same codebase and infrastructure. Laravel is a powerful PHP framework that provides the tools and features needed to build multi-tenant applications. In this article, we will explore how to build a multi-tenant application with Laravel.

Step 1: Database Structure

The first step in building a multi-tenant application is to define the database structure. In a multi-tenant application, each tenant has their own separate database, which is used to store their data. To achieve this, we need to create a separate database for each tenant. One way to do this is to use a naming convention for the database, such as prefixing the database name with the tenant ID or name.

// create a new database for a tenant
DB::statement('CREATE DATABASE ' . $tenantDatabaseName);

Step 2: Tenant Identification

The next step is to identify the tenant for each request. This can be done using a variety of methods, such as using a subdomain, a unique URL, or a header in the request. In this article, we will use a subdomain to identify the tenant.

// identify the tenant using the subdomain
$tenant = Tenant::where('subdomain', '=', Request::getHost())->firstOrFail();

Step 3: Tenant Middleware

Once we have identified the tenant, we need to ensure that all subsequent requests are handled by the correct database. We can achieve this by using middleware in Laravel. Middleware is a way to add functionality to the HTTP request lifecycle. In our case, we will create a middleware that switches the database connection to the tenant's database.

// switch the database connection to the tenant's database
Config::set('database.connections.mysql.database', $tenant->database_name);
DB::reconnect('mysql');

Step 4: Tenant Data Isolation

Now that we have separated the tenants into different databases and identified the tenant for each request, we need to ensure that each tenant's data is properly isolated. We can achieve this by using Laravel's Eloquent ORM and applying constraints to all database queries.

// apply tenant constraints to all database queries
User::where('tenant_id', '=', $tenant->id)->get();

Step 5: Tenant Management

Finally, we need to provide a way to manage the tenants in the application. This includes creating and deleting tenants, assigning users to tenants, and managing tenant-specific data. We can achieve this by building a tenant management interface that allows authorized users to manage the tenants in the application.

// example of creating a new tenant
$tenant = new Tenant();
$tenant->name = 'Acme Inc.';
$tenant->subdomain = 'acme';
$tenant->database_name = 'acme_db';
$tenant->save();

Conclusion

In conclusion, building a multi-tenant application with Laravel requires careful planning and implementation. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create a robust and scalable multi-tenant application that provides a unique and personalized experience for each tenant. With Laravel's powerful tools and features, building a multi-tenant application has never been easier.

Categories : Laravel

Tags : Laravel multi-tenant application database structure tenant identification data isolation tenant management

Abhay Dudhatra

I am a full-stack developer who is passionate about creating innovative solutions that solve real-world problems. With expertise in technologies such as PHP, Laravel, Angular, Vue, Node, Javascript, JQuery, Codeigniter, and Bootstrap, I love to share my knowledge and help others in the industry through writing tutorials and providing tips. Consistency and hard work are my mantras, and I constantly strive to improve my skills and stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in the field. As the owner of Open Code Solution, I am committed to providing high-quality services to my clients and helping them achieve their business objectives.