Eloquent
Eloquent is an object-relational mapper (ORM) included with Laravel, a PHP web framework. It provides an ActiveRecord implementation for working with databases, allowing developers to interact with database tables using intuitive PHP objects and methods. It simplifies database operations like queries, relationships, and data manipulation by abstracting SQL into a fluent, expressive syntax.
Developers should learn Eloquent when building Laravel applications to streamline database interactions and maintain clean, maintainable code. It is essential for web development projects requiring complex data relationships, such as e-commerce platforms, content management systems, or social networks, as it handles associations like one-to-many and many-to-many with minimal boilerplate. Using Eloquent reduces the risk of SQL injection and improves productivity by leveraging Laravel's built-in features like migrations and seeders.