my controller fails to find helper function

When you declare a function in a file that has a namespace declaration like those you have in youre helpers, the full name of the function includes that namespace. So,

PHP Code:

// awesome_helper.php
namespace App\Helpers;

function whatever(): void {} 


In this case, your

Code:

whatever

 function's full name is

Code:

App\Helpers\whatever

. So, if you are invoking that function in your code, you usually add a use statement.

PHP Code:

// home controller
namespace App\Controllers;

use function App\Helpers\whatever; // < this line

class HomeController extends BaseController
{
    public function foo(): void
    {
        whatever(); // call your helper as usual
    }
} 


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If you don't have the namespace declaration in your helpers, then no need for the use statement line.