> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/spatie/laravel-data/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Performance

> Optimize Laravel Data performance by caching data structure analysis

Laravel Data uses PHP reflection to infer property types, validation rules, and transformations. While powerful, this comes with a performance cost that can be eliminated by caching.

## The Performance Cost

During development, the reflection overhead is typically negligible. However, in production with many data objects, this analysis happens on every request unless cached.

<Note>
  The good news: Laravel Data can operate without reflection by using cached analysis results.
</Note>

## Caching Structures

Cache all data object analysis before deploying to production:

```bash theme={null}
php artisan data:cache-structures
```

This command:

1. Searches for all data objects in your application
2. Analyzes each data object
3. Stores the results in your configured cache

<Warning>
  **Always run this command** after creating or modifying data objects, or when deploying to production.
</Warning>

## Configuration

Configure caching in `config/data.php`:

### Cache Store

Specify which cache driver to use:

```php theme={null}
'structure_caching' => [
    'cache' => [
        'store' => 'redis',
        'prefix' => 'laravel-data',
    ],
],
```

By default, it uses your application's default cache store.

### Discovery Directories

Configure which directories to search:

```php theme={null}
'structure_caching' => [
    'directories' => [
        app_path('Data'),
        app_path('DTOs'),
    ],
],
```

By default, the `app/Data` directory is searched recursively.

### Discovery Method

The package uses [php-structure-discoverer](https://github.com/spatie/php-structure-discoverer) to find data classes.

#### Reflection Discovery (Default)

Enabled by default:

```php theme={null}
'structure_caching' => [
    'reflection_discovery' => [
        'enabled' => true,
        'base_path' => base_path(),
        'root_namespace' => null,
    ],
],
```

#### PHP Parser Discovery

Disable reflection and use the PHP parser instead:

```php theme={null}
'structure_caching' => [
    'reflection_discovery' => [
        'enabled' => false,
    ],
],
```

When using the parser, include the Laravel Data source:

```php theme={null}
'structure_caching' => [
    'directories' => [
        app_path('Data'),
        base_path('vendor/spatie/laravel-data/src'),
    ],
],
```

<Accordion title="Why include vendor directory?">
  The parser can't depend on reflection, so it needs to analyze the Laravel Data source code to understand what constitutes a data object.
</Accordion>

### Disabling Caching

Disable structure caching entirely:

```php theme={null}
'structure_caching' => [
    'enabled' => false,
],
```

## Testing

<Note>
  The cache is automatically disabled during tests to ensure analysis results are always up-to-date and cache mocks aren't affected.
</Note>

## Deployment Workflow

Recommended workflow for production deployments:

```bash theme={null}
# Clear old cache
php artisan cache:clear

# Cache data structures
php artisan data:cache-structures

# Cache other Laravel structures
php artisan config:cache
php artisan route:cache
php artisan view:cache
```

## Viewing Cached Classes

See which classes were cached:

```bash theme={null}
php artisan data:cache-structures --show-classes
```

Output:

```
Caching data structures...
████████████████████ 100%

Cached 42 data classes

+----------------------------------+
| Data Class                       |
+----------------------------------+
| App\Data\UserData                |
| App\Data\PostData                |
| App\Data\CommentData             |
| ...                              |
+----------------------------------+
```

## Performance Impact

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Without Caching" icon="hourglass">
    Reflection analysis on every request

    \~5-10ms per data class (depending on complexity)
  </Card>

  <Card title="With Caching" icon="bolt">
    Pre-analyzed structures from cache

    \~0.1-0.5ms per data class
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Note>
  For applications with 50+ data objects, caching can reduce data-related overhead by 90%+.
</Note>