LARAVEL 8: Class 'Database\Seeders\DB' not found
Stefan Izdrail
Founder & Senior Architect · 2026-06-29
Title: Resolving 'Class 'Database\Seeders\DB' not found' Error When Running Laravel Seeders
Introduction:
In Laravel, seeders play an essential role in creating and populating your database with initial data. However, sometimes you might encounter errors while running your seeder class, such as the one mentioned in this article - 'Class 'Database\Seeders\DB' not found'. In this blog post, we will explore why this error occurs and walk through possible solutions to get your seeders working properly again.
Body:
1. Ensure you have the correct namespace for Database and Seeder classes:
To avoid the DB class not being found, you should ensure that both the parent directory of your seeder folder and the seeder file itself follow Laravel's recommended naming conventions. The database-related classes should be under 'app/Database', while your seeder files should reside in 'database/seeders'.
2. Check your seeder class' namespace:
In the given code, the namespace for your UserSeeder class is missing, so it might not be correctly identifying the required classes from the database folder. Make sure you define the correct namespace at the beginning of the file. For example, 'namespace Database\Seeders;'.
3. Use proper Laravel Database Manager:
The DB facade (which is represented by DB::) used in your code might not be the one provided by Laravel's database manager. Laravel offers a dedicated class for interacting with databases - 'DatabaseManager'. Using it instead of DB can help you avoid this issue. For instance, replace 'DB::table('users')->insert(...)' with 'DatabaseManager::getConnection()->table('users')->insert(...)'.
4. Ensure your seeder class extends DatabaseSeeder:
Your UserSeeder class should extend Laravel's built-in DatabaseSeeder class, which provides the required methods for interacting with database tables. This ensures that your class inherits all necessary functionality from Laravel to manage seeders successfully.
5. Review your seeder version compatibility:
Laravel 8.x comes with its own set of features and improvements, including changes to how namespaces are structured in the framework. Ensure that you are using the correct Laravel version for your application and test it appropriately. If necessary, update your Laravel installation or modify your existing code accordingly.
Conclusion:
In summary, the 'Class 'Database\Seeders\DB' not found' error when running Laravel seeders can be caused by incorrect namespace usage, an outdated database class, or an improperly extended seeder class. To fix this issue, follow the mentioned solutions and ensure your code adheres to Laravel's best practices for handling database seeders. With these guidelines in mind, you should be able to successfully run and manage your database seeders without any further complications.