5 Ways to Improve Laravel CRUD Performance

Laravel simplifies creating CRUD operations. However, without the right optimization, performance issues may occur, slowing the app dow...

Laravel simplifies creating CRUD operations. However, without the right optimization, performance issues may occur, slowing the app down. Inefficient queries, excessive database calls, and poor indexing lead to delays.

Are your CRUD operations running slowly? Whether you use Backpack CRUD, another tool, or just Laravel Eloquent, this article shares five practical ways to speed up performance, lower database load, and boost overall efficiency. These strategies help create smooth and responsive applications for a better user experience! 🚀🔥

So, let's start discussing them:

1. Query Optimization with Eager Loading

Why?

Unoptimized queries make the database perform extra searches. This slows data retrieval and increases the system's workload. As a result, operations become less efficient and take more time.

How To Fix?

Use eager loading for query optimization. It fetches related models with a single query. This approach reduces database calls and lessens the load on the server.

Example

Imagine a CRUD fetching 100 users and retrieving their role names. Without eager loading, that's 101 queries. With eager loading, it’s just 2 queries.

/* ❌ Bad: N+1 problem */
$users = User::all();
foreach ($users as $user) {
    echo $user->role->name;
}

/* ✅ Good: Eager loaded roles */
$users = User::with('role')->get();

🛠 Tip: Use tools like Laravel Debugbar or Telescope to inspect queries.

2. Data Caching with Invalidation

Why?

Fetching the same data repeatedly increases server load. It’s like running back to the garage to grab your favorite tool every time you need it — inefficient!

How To Fix?

Use Laravel’s Cache::remember() method to store frequently accessed data, and refresh it after a set time. Don’t forget to invalidate cache when data changes!

Example

Fetching all posts repeatedly from the database is costly. If the app repeatedly asks the database for all those posts, it strains the server. Using caching to store the posts allows quick access, making the app run smoother and faster without overloading the database.

/* ❌ Bad: when not saved inside the cache */
$posts = Post::all();

/* ✅ Good: When saved inside the cache */
$posts = Cache::remember('posts', 60, fn() => Post::all());

Cache Invalidation on create/update:

Post::create($request->all()); // after post creation
Cache::forget('posts'); // remove old cache

🛠 Tip: Consider Redis for faster and more scalable cache performance.

3. Database Indexing

Why?

Searching a database without indexing is like finding a book in a messy library — it checks every row, making queries slow and inefficient, especially with large data.

How To Fix?

Add indexes to the columns you frequently search or filter by (e.g., user_id, post_id). Instead of scanning everything, indexes organize information like a table of contents in a book. When data is indexed, queries run much faster, and app efficiency improves.

Example

Imagine searching a user's comment on a post. Without proper indexing, the app will scan through every post and comment to find the right matches, which is time-consuming. With proper database indexing, the app can quickly find the right comment and be ready to handle simultaneous requests.

/* ❌ Bad: Querying for the specific comment on the post without an index */

// Assuming you have the post ID and user ID
$postId = 1;
$userId = 2;

// Retrieve comments for the specific post by the specific user
$comments = Comment::where('post_id', $postId)
                   ->where('user_id', $userId)
                   ->get();

/* ✅ Good: Create an index on user_id and post_id columns on comments schema */
Schema::table('comments', function (Blueprint $table) {
    // Create an index on post_id and user_id for faster searches
    $table->index(['post_id', 'user_id']);
});

4. Using Queues for Heavy & Time Consuming Tasks

Why?

Without queues, the app waits for tasks like email notifications or third-party API calls, causing delays. As tasks pile up, performance slows down, leading to system overload and a longer response time, making everything feel unresponsive and sluggish.

How To Fix?

With queues, the app sends long tasks like emails or notifications to run in the background. This keeps the UI responsive while letting the system handle time-consuming work behind the scenes.

Example

Creating a user and sending a welcome email:

/* ❌ Bad: Email delays user creation */
$user = User::create($request->all());
Mail::to($user)->send(new WelcomeMail($user));

/* ✅ Good: Use queue */
$user = User::create($request->all());
SendWelcomeEmail::dispatch($user);

5. Use Pagination for Large Data Sets

Why?

Fetching large amounts of data (e.g., thousands of records) slows your app down and increases memory usage. It also hurts the user experience.

How to Fix?

Use Laravel’s built-in pagination methods to load only the number of records needed per request. Laravel provides:

• paginate() — standard with page numbers
• simplePaginate() — for simple next/prev buttons
• cursorPaginate() — best for large, infinite scrolling

Example

/* ❌ Bad: Loads everything */
$posts = Post::all();

/* ✅ Good: Loads 20 per page */
$posts = Post::paginate(20);

In your Blade view:

{{ $posts->links() }}

Final Word

When CRUD operations in Laravel feel slow, a few smart tweaks can bring big improvements:

✔ Reduce unnecessary database queries to avoid extra processing ✔ Store frequently accessed data in cache for faster retrieval ✔ Optimize search/filter using efficient database indexing ✔ Process heavy tasks in the background using queues ✔ Implement pagination for large lists

Start optimizing today — your Laravel app (and your users) will thank you!

Let me know what helps the most. Drop a comment to share your experience — I’d love to hear your thoughts!