title: laravel. echo variable to view from controller
body: <p>I have some Ajax making a post request to a function in my controller (postIndex)
  I would like to echo this variable ($a) to the view.</p>
  
  <pre><code>public function postIndex( \Illuminate\Http\Request $request ){
  /*
  * CODE
  */
  $a = "string";
  echo $a;
  
  return SOMETHING;
  }
  </code></pre>