Hi, folks am happy to share this with you as you already know how backing up your database is very important to avoid data loss, if you are looking for a way to backup your database using Laravel version 5 to 8, you are at the right place. At the end of this article I will provide the source code, GitHub repo and youtube video to make sure I put you through without facing any challenges, and if you face any don't forget to reach me via the comment box.

How you will learn

1. How to backup your database
2. Delete old files to free up space
3. send notification

following this tutorial, you will first install a fresh laravel app or use your old laravel app.

if you are coming from using the fresh laravel app do this, if you are not skip.

Install via Laravel global command

laravel new database_backup --git

or install via composer command

composer create-project laravel/laravel database_backup

The next step is for fresh installation and old projects

go to app/config.php to setup data that we will use to access the database for the backup

  'db_username' => env('DB_USERNAME'),
  'db_password' => env('DB_PASSWORD'),
  'db_host' => env('DB_HOST'),
  'db_database' => env('DB_DATABASE'),

create backup database command using

 php artisan make:command BackupDatabase  

A new file will be created under this folder app\Console\Commands\BackupDatabase.php, open it and paste this code snippet

namespace App\Console\Commands;


use Illuminate\Console\Command;
use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;


class BackupDatabase extends Command {


    /**
     * The name and signature of the console command.
     *
     * @var string
     */
    //call it with php artisan backup:db to run the code
    protected $signature = 'backup:db';


    /**
     * The console command description.
     *
     * @var string
     */
    protected $description = 'Command description';


    /**
     * Create a new command instance.
     *
     * @return void
     */
    public function __construct() {
        parent::__construct();
        //calling it from the config we added before
        $this->host = config('app.db_host');
        $this->user = config('app.db_username');
        $this->pass = config('app.db_password');
        $this->dbname = config('app.db_database');
    }


    /**
     * Execute the console command.
     *
     * @return int
     */
    public function handle() {
        //code that will handle the backup
        try {
            //path directory to store the file
            $storePath = storage_path() . '/app/backup';
            //filename , name of the file 
            $filename = 'backup' . Carbon::now()->format('Y_m-d') . '.sql';


            //check if the path directory exist and skip if not create it before procceeding
            if (!is_dir(dirname($storePath))) {
                //we create fuction to create the path
                static::createPathDiretory($storePath);
            }
            //handling the backup
            $command = "mysqldump --user=" . $this->user . " --password=" . $this->pass . " --host=" . $this->host . " " . $this->dbname . " > " . $storePath . $filename;
            $returnVar = null;
            $output = null;
            exec($command, $output, $returnVar);


            //adding function to delete old files after successfully backup of new files 
            $time = 345600; //time is in seconds eg 4 days = 345600 , delete file after 4 days
            //function to handle delete file
            static::deleteOldFiles($storePath, $time);
            //send notification after successful backup
            //send notification to email using your already mailling functions
        } catch (Exception $ex) {
            //backup fails 
            //send notification to email using your already mailling functions
        }
    }


    public static function createPathDiretory($path_dir, $abs = true) {


        if (!is_dir($path_dir)) {
            //create the path with permission to read and write
            mkdir($path_dir, 0777, true);
        }
        return ($abs ? $path_dir : $path_dir);
    }


    public static function deleteOldFiles($storePath, $time) {
        //loop into the directory and put all the files in foreach to check
        foreach (glob($storePath . "*") as $file) {
            //check the file that its time is more than 4 days depends on your own time
            if (time() - filectime($file) > $time) {
                unlink($file);
            }
        }
    }


}

to test the code on your live server use php artisan backup:db 

Next step, we need to add it for automation to avoid accessing it always from terminal

locate app\Console\Kernel.php

use App\Console\Commands\BackupDatabase;

  protected $commands = [
        //adding the backup to laravel schedule
        BackupDatabase::class
    ];

  protected function schedule(Schedule $schedule)
    {
        //depends on your need 
         $schedule->command('backup:db')->daily();
         //go to your cpanel, cron job and add this command//         /usr/local/bin/php /home/hostusername/root folder/artisan schedule:run >> /dev/null 2>&1
    }

The last step go to your cpanel, cron job and add this command

/usr/local/bin/php /home/hostusername/root folder/artisan schedule:run >> /dev/null 2>&1

Congratulations you have successfully learned how to backup your database, find this article and resources helpful kindly share and comment, it will encourage me to write more on laravel and other languages.

Github link: Backupdatabase