Create a Permalink from a page title - Laravel

category.php

<?php

class Category extends Eloquent
{

  /**
   * -----------------------------------
   * Make Permalink from a Title.
   * -----------------------------------
   *
   * Take this   [ Fence Panels ]
   * Return this [ /prefix/12/fence-panels ]
   *  Where :
   *    '/prefix'      = The controlling route.
   *    '/12'          = The ID of the element in the DB
   *    'fence-panels' = the Page/Product Title
   *
   * This removes the need to perform any CRUD actions for Permalinks.
   *
   * @param null $prefix
   * @return string
   *
   * //TODO Check for characters that would screw up the route. Such as / & \
   *
   */
  public function makePermalink($prefix = null){


    $defaultPrefix = ($prefix) ? $prefix : '/online-brochure';

    return $defaultPrefix . '/' . $this->id . '/' . str_replace(' ', '-',trim($this->name));

  }//makePermalink()

}