Laravel: How to Get Current Route Name? (v5 ... v7)

Stefan Izdrail

Founder & Senior Architect · 2026-06-29

Laravel Company
Title: Laravel: How to Get Current Route Name? (v5...v7)

As a senior developer and technical blogger, understanding how to obtain the current route name in different Laravel versions is crucial for debugging or implementing various functionalities. In this comprehensive post, we are going to explore the methods to retrieve route names in versions from v5 through v7 of Laravel.

Laravel v5

In Laravel v5, you can get the current route name using the `Request::route()->getName()` method. The Request object is a powerful tool that allows us to interact with HTTP requests. Here's how you can implement it:
use Illuminate\Http\Request;

// Code goes here

$request = Request::createFromGlobals(); // Create a new request from the global variables
echo $request->route()->getName(); // Retrieve the current route name

Although this method is functional, it's not as clean or optimized. A better approach would involve using the Route helper function. Here's how to do that:

use Illuminate\Routing\Route;

// Code goes here

$route = Route::current(); // Get the current route object
echo $route->getAction()['as']; // Retrieve the current route name

Laravel v6

In Laravel v6, we continue to use the `Route::currentRouteName()` method. It is a shorthand function that simplifies accessing the current route's name. Keep in mind that you should always import Route from the Illuminate\Routing namespace:
use Illuminate\Routing\Route;

// Code goes here

Route::currentRouteName(); // Retrieve the current route name

Laravel v7 onward

In Laravel 7 and later versions, the `Route::currentRouteName()` method remains the same. However, there are minor changes in how you import Route from the Illuminate\Routing namespace:
use Illuminate\Routing\Router;

// Code goes here

$router = Router::getInstance(); // Get the current router instance
echo $router->getCurrentRoute()->getName(); // Retrieve the current route name

Summary and Best Practices

From Laravel 5 to v7, we have seen how the approach to obtain the current route name evolved. Although the syntax may differ slightly across versions, the general idea remains consistent: using functions or methods that provide access to the routing structure within Laravel. To ensure proper code organization, it's recommended to follow these best practices: 1. Import the necessary namespaces correctly based on your Laravel version. This ensures that the required classes and functions are available for use in your application. 2. Always perform type-hinting and autoloading wherever possible to reduce potential errors during runtime. 3. Make sure to test your code thoroughly, especially when migrating between Laravel versions or implementing new features that rely on route names. This helps you identify any potential issues before they become larger problems. 4. Keep your code clean and well-structured. Utilize appropriate data structures, such as custom classes or objects, to maintain a clear separation of concerns within your application. 5. Regularly update your Laravel version for security and performance reasons. Ensure that you perform thorough testing before finalizing any updates to minimize disruptions in your codebase.

Conclusion

Obtaining the current route name is a crucial aspect of debugging and developing with Laravel. By reviewing these methods, we have learned how the approach has evolved across different versions. Always keep up-to-date with your Laravel version to ensure best practices are being followed while maintaining a clean, well-organized codebase. Happy coding!