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interfaces

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Contracts defining the shape a class must conform to. Used for decoupling dependent classes from concrete implementations, enabling multiple implementations and easier testing.

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Name: Interfaces & Contracts Description: Contracts defining the shape a class must conform to. Used for decoupling dependent classes from concrete implementations, enabling multiple implementations and easier testing. Compatible Agents: general-purpose, backend Tags: app/Contracts/**/*.php, laravel, php, backend, interface, contract, dependency-inversion

Rules

  • Interface classes live in app/Contracts/
  • Interfaces define a contract — the shape a class must conform to, without dictating the implementation
  • Use a clear noun or adjective that describes the capability: PaymentGateway, Notifiable, ReportGenerator
  • Avoid an Interface suffix — the namespace and context make it clear
  • Only create an interface when there are (or you anticipate) multiple implementations
  • Always type-hint the interface, never the concrete class, in consuming classes
  • Bind the interface to a concrete implementation in a service provider
  • Define only public method signatures — no implementation, no properties

Examples

// Interface definition
namespace App\Contracts;

use App\Models\Order;
use App\Data\PaymentResult;

interface PaymentGateway
{
    public function charge(Order $order, int $amountInCents): PaymentResult;

    public function refund(string $transactionId, int $amountInCents): PaymentResult;
}

// Implementation
namespace App\Services\Payment;

use App\Contracts\PaymentGateway;

class StripeGateway implements PaymentGateway
{
    public function charge(Order $order, int $amountInCents): PaymentResult
    {
        // Stripe-specific implementation
    }

    public function refund(string $transactionId, int $amountInCents): PaymentResult
    {
        // Stripe-specific implementation
    }
}

// Service container binding — AppServiceProvider
public function register(): void
{
    $this->app->bind(PaymentGateway::class, StripeGateway::class);
}

// Consuming — type-hint the interface
class ChargePaymentMethod
{
    public function __construct(
        private readonly PaymentGateway $gateway,
    ) {}
}

// Testing — swap the binding
$this->app->bind(PaymentGateway::class, FakePaymentGateway::class);

Anti-Patterns

  • Creating an interface for every class by default — only add interfaces where they provide real decoupling
  • Creating an interface when there is only one implementation and no realistic chance of another
  • Adding default implementations to an interface (use an abstract class instead)
  • Adding constants specific to one implementation (keep in the concrete class)
  • Type-hinting the concrete class instead of the interface in consumers

References