Laravel is a free, open-source PHP web framework used for developing web applications. It is based on the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern and follows a convention-over-configuration approach, which means that many of its features are pre-configured and can be used out-of-the-box.

One of the key features of Laravel is its robust ecosystem of tools and packages that can be used to extend the framework and add additional functionality. This includes Laravel Forge, which makes it easy to deploy and manage Laravel applications on cloud servers, and Laravel Echo, which provides real-time event broadcasting capabilities.

Laravel also has a number of built-in features that make it easier to develop web applications. For example, it has a built-in ORM (Object-Relational Mapper) that allows developers to interact with databases using simple, elegant syntax, and it also has tools for routing, authentication, and caching.

Overall, Laravel is a popular and powerful PHP framework that is widely used for developing web applications. Its features and tools make it an attractive choice for many developers.