How to Store Array in Database Laravel 10?

In this post, you will learn how to save an array in a Laravel database. I will demonstrated how to save an array datatype in a database step by step. Here's how to use Laravel to save array data in a database. I will explain in detail how to store an array in a Laravel database.

The example below is applicable with Laravel 6, Laravel 7, Laravel 8, Laravel 9, and Laravel 10 versions.

Why do we have to store array in database? sometimes we have large data then we can not create many fields in database table. In this case we can use JSON data type to store various values which means we can store unstructured data easily. We will give you examples how do we insert and store JSON array in database table with Laravel 10.

Firstly, we will create migration file with a JSON column. After then we create a model class with getter and setter, so we can create records.

How to Store Array in Laravel 10

• Step 1 - Install Laravel
• Step 2 - Create Migration File
• Step 3 - Create Model
• Step 4 - Create Controller
• Step 5 - Add Route
• Step 6 - Run Laravel App

Step 1 - Install Laravel

Firstly, we are going to install Laravel project, incase you do not have, and run with command below.

composer create-project laravel/laravel blog

Step 2 - Create Migration File

Important note: suppose you have configured connection databasae in .env file

We will create new database migration file for "books" table with title, author, and genre (JSON column) and then we will create model for books table.

php artisan make:migration create_books_table

Open file database -> migrations -> 2023_07_11_141714_create_books_table.php

<?php
  
use Illuminate\Database\Migrations\Migration;
use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema;
  
return new class extends Migration
{
    /**
     * Run the migrations.
     *
     * @return void
     */
    public function up()
    {
        Schema::create('book', function (Blueprint $table) {
            $table->id();
            $table->string('author');
            $table->json('genre')->nullable();
            $table->timestamps();
        });
    }
  
    /**
     * Reverse the migrations.
     *
     * @return void
     */
    public function down()
    {
        Schema::dropIfExists('books');
    }
};	

Then we can run migration command to create table in database.

php artisan migrate

Step 3 - Create Model

Now we will create Book.php model with two properties getter and setter. Let's run following command to create model:

php artisan make:model Book

 Open file App -> Models -> Book.php

<?php
  
namespace App\Models;
  
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Factories\HasFactory;
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Casts\Attribute;
  
class Book extends Model
{
    use HasFactory;
  
    /**
     * Write code on Method
     *
     * @return response()
     */
    protected $fillable = [
        'title', 'genre' 
    ]; 
  
    /**
     * Get the user's first name.
     *
     * @return \Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Casts\Attribute
     */
    protected function genre(): Attribute
    {
        return Attribute::make(
            get: fn ($value) => json_decode($value, true),
            set: fn ($value) => json_encode($value),
        );
    } 
}

Step 4 - Create Controller

Here we will create controller file BookController.php file and implement code in index() function. This function will create a record with sample data. Let's run below command to create controller file:

php artisan make:controller BookController

Open file App -> Http -> Controllers -> BookController.php

<?php
  
namespace App\Http\Controllers;
  
use Illuminate\Http\Request;
use App\Models\Book;
  
class BookController extends Controller
{
    /**
     * Write code on Method
     *
     * @return response()
     */
    public function index()
    {
        $sample = [
            'author' => 'Robert T. Kiyosaki',
            'genre' => [
                '1' => 'Finance',
                '2' => 'Education',
                '3' => 'Personal'
            ]
        ];
        $book= Book::create($sample);
        dd($book->genre);
  
    }
}

Step 5 - Insert Route

To connect controller file and the link that we access in browser bar. Let's insert a route in web.php:

Open file routes -> web.php

<?php
 
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Route;
use App\Http\Controllers\BookController;
   
/*
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Web Routes
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| Here is where you can register web routes for your application. These
| routes are loaded by the RouteServiceProvider within a group which
| contains the "web" middleware group. Now create something great!
|
*/
     
Route::get('book', [BookController::class, 'index']);

Step 6 - Run Laravel App

Finally, run server development to start server project by following command

php artisan serve

Open URL http://localhost:8000/ you will see the output as below

Output:

array:3 [
        '1' => 'Finance',
        '2' => 'Education',
        '3' => 'Personal'
]

Hope it would help you, please have a nice day...

You might also like...

• GroupBy Having Query Builder Example in Laravel

• Cron Job Execute Task Scheduling in Laravel Example

• How to Protect XSS using Middleware In Laravel 8 Laravel 9