php - How do I make global helper functions in laravel 5?

If I wanted to make a currentUser() function for some oauth stuff I am doing where I can use it in a view or in a controller (think rails, where you do helper_method: current_user in the application controller).

Everything I read states to create a helpers folder and add the function there and then that way you can do Helpers::functionName Is this the right way to do this?

Whats the "laravel way" of creating helper functions that can be used in blade templates and controllers?

Answer

Create a new file in your app/Helpers directory name it AnythingHelper.php
An example of my helper is :

function getDomesticCities()
{
$result = \App\Package::where('type', '=', 'domestic')
    ->groupBy('from_city')
    ->get(['from_city']);

return $result;
}

generate a service provider for your helper by following command

php artisan make:provider HelperServiceProvider

in the register function of your newly generated HelperServiceProvider.php add following code

require_once app_path('Helpers/AnythingHelper.php');

now in your config/app.php load this service provider and you are done

'App\Providers\HelperServiceProvider',