helpers.php

<?php 

/**
 * Adds active to the class if current path
 * equals passed path. Allows custom
 * classes as well.
 * 
 * @param $paths
 * @param null $classes
 * @return string
 */

function active_class_path($paths, $classes = null)
{
    foreach ((array) $paths as $path) {
        if (request()->is($path)) {
            return 'class="' . ($classes ? $classes . ' ' : '') . 'active"';
        }
    }

    return $classes ? 'class="' . $classes . '"' : '';
}

links.blade.php

<ul class="menu">
    <li><a href="{{ url('articles') }}" {!! active_class_path(['articles', 'a/*']) !!}>Articles</a></li>
    <li><a href="{{ url('dashboard') }}" {!! active_class_path('dashboard', 'additional classes here') !!}>Dashboard</a></li>
    <li><a href="{{ url('dashboard/users') }}" {!! active_class_path('dashboard/users') !!}>Users</a></li>
    <li><a href="{{ url('dashboard/settings') }}" {!! active_class_path('dashboard/settings') !!}>Site settings</a></li>
</ul>