Laravel is a popular open-source PHP web framework that follows the model-view-controller (MVC) architectural pattern. It was created by Taylor Otwell and released in 2011. Laravel provides an elegant and expressive syntax, along with a wide range of features, making it a powerful tool for developing web applications.

Here are some key features and concepts that make Laravel a preferred choice for many developers:

1. MVC Architecture: Laravel follows the MVC pattern, which helps in separating the application's logic, presentation, and data layers. This separation enhances code organization and maintainability.

2. Routing System: Laravel offers a simple and intuitive routing system that allows developers to define application routes in a clear and readable way. It supports various HTTP methods and URL patterns, making it easy to handle different types of requests.

3. Eloquent ORM: Laravel provides an object-relational mapping (ORM) called Eloquent. It simplifies database operations by allowing developers to interact with the database using PHP objects instead of writing SQL queries directly. Eloquent supports relationships, query building, and provides a fluent and expressive syntax.

4. Blade Templating Engine: Laravel comes with a powerful templating engine called Blade. Blade provides an intuitive syntax for defining views and allows for code reuse through template inheritance, partials, and control structures. It also supports caching to optimize performance.

5. Database Migrations: Laravel's migration system enables version control of database schemas. It allows developers to define database tables and modifications using PHP code instead of manual SQL scripts. Migrations make it easy to collaborate with other developers and maintain a consistent database structure across different environments.

6. Authentication and Authorization: Laravel provides a built-in authentication system that simplifies user authentication and management. It includes features like user registration, login, password reset, and more. Laravel also offers robust authorization capabilities with a flexible and easy-to-use access control system.

7. Testing Support: Laravel emphasizes the importance of testing and includes testing utilities out of the box. It provides a testing framework that allows developers to write unit tests, integration tests, and feature tests. Laravel also integrates with popular testing tools like PHPUnit for comprehensive testing.

8. Extensive Ecosystem: Laravel has a vast and active community that contributes to a rich ecosystem of packages and extensions. It has a dedicated package manager called Composer, which makes it easy to install and manage third-party libraries. The Laravel ecosystem provides solutions for various functionalities like caching, queue management, payment processing, and more.

Overall, Laravel aims to enhance developer productivity and promote best practices by offering an elegant syntax, rich features, and a robust ecosystem. It has gained popularity for its developer-friendly approach, extensive documentation, and active community support.