RailwayTwo/app/Http/Controllers/Controller.php

<?php

namespace App\Http\Controllers;

use Illuminate\Foundation\Bus\DispatchesJobs;
use Illuminate\Routing\Controller as BaseController;
use Illuminate\Foundation\Validation\ValidatesRequests;
use Illuminate\Foundation\Auth\Access\AuthorizesRequests;

class Controller extends BaseController
{
    use AuthorizesRequests, DispatchesJobs, ValidatesRequests;

    public function limitName($items, $len = 8)
    {
        return $items->map(function ($item) use($len) {
            return mb_substr($item, 0, $len);
        });
    }
}