inserting array value to database laravel

Question

I have a form attributes called, name, description and features where features is a multiple checkboxes which is like

feature 1
feature 2
feature 2
feature 4

User can select multiple checkbox at once. I have a database table called product like

-----------------------------------------
    id    name    description    features  
-----------------------------------------

When user selects the multiple checkbox, i need to insert all checkbox value in the features column. Right now I can echo the selected checkbox value like

 $feat = Input::get('features');
    foreach ($feat as $key => $n){
     echo $feat[$n];
    }

but I need those features to insert into the database, for normal insertion, we would do like:

$product = new Product;
$product->name = Input::get('name');
$product->description = Input::get('description');
$product->features = Input::get('features');
$product->save();

but how should i modify the above code in order to save the array value to the database? I am trying to insert the value to same column because i won't be querying it on the basis of features.

Saving the array value to the database in a single column is a very bad idea. You should consider normalising your data and data structure first. Use something like a product_feature table, where, for each product you will have several rows, one for each feature. — AdrianBR
– AdrianBR, Commented Sep 8, 2015 at 9:29

Quasdunk · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-08 09:58:32Z

6

It's quite simple. If you know that you won't query the features, it's perfectly fine to store them as Json or a serialized array. But if you will need to query them and they are a key aspect of your application, you should put them in their own table.

I prefer to store arrays in Json-format because it's easier to read and is not specific to PHP. Laravel gives you pretty sweet options to make this work.

At first, declare the features-field of you products-table as json in your migration:

Schema::create('products', function (Blueprint $table) {
    // ...
    $table->json('features');
});

Then tell your Product-model to automatically cast it to an array when you access it by simply setting a $casts-attribute:

class Product extends Model
{
    // ...
    protected $casts = [
        'features' => 'json'
    ];
}

That's it. Now the array will be stored as Json, but when you access it with $product->features you'll get an array back.

To make everything even more simple, you should set up a fillable attribute on your Product model:

class Product extends Model
{
    // ...
    protected $fillable = ['name', 'description', 'features'];
}

This allows for doing something like this in your controller (or wherever you create the product):

$product = Product::create(Input::all());

...instead of newing it up and setting the attributes one by one.

And as mentioned above, be sure you don't need the features to be query-able, meaning you won't encounter situation where you're trying to get certain products only having specific features or something. But if you do need to look up features, you should put them in their own table. Otherwise this approach is just fine because it's more convenient.

edited Sep 8, 2015 at 9:58

answered Sep 8, 2015 at 9:44

Quasdunk

15.2k3 gold badges39 silver badges47 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

Arbitrary Over a year ago

I'm confused that someone said 'features' => 'json', not 'features' => 'array'. Official laravel doc says (even the link in this answer) 'array' is correct but some people including this answer say 'json'. What is correct? Both?

Quasdunk Over a year ago

Hey @Arbitrary, both work and can be use synonymously, whatever fits your mental model ("cast this to an array" vs. "parse this json data")

linx · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-08 10:07:50Z

2

Please look to database normalization for information how to store Data which is in a 1:N relationship. You have to create an extra table like "product_feature" with the attributes: ['id', 'product_id', 'function_name'].

Then your Insert function looks like this:

$product = new Product;
$product->name = Input::get('name');
$product->description = Input::get('description');
$product->save();

$feat = Input::get('features');

foreach ($feat as $key => $n){
    $product_function = new ProductFunction;
    $product_function->product_id = $product->id;
    $product_function->function_name = $feat[$n];
    $product_function->save();
}

Hope it helps!

edited Sep 8, 2015 at 10:07

answered Sep 8, 2015 at 9:46

linx

1742 silver badges18 bronze badges

1 Comment

Mahdi Safari Over a year ago

Hey @linx Your approach is right but in foreach loop instead of $feat[$n] must set $feat[$key] it is work correctly thanks.

pespantelis · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-08 09:39:08Z

1

You could use the json_encode function to save the array as a json string.

$product->features = json_encode(Input::get('features'));

But I will also agree with @AdrianBR it is a bad idea to saving the array value to the database in a single column.

answered Sep 8, 2015 at 9:39

pespantelis

15.4k7 gold badges46 silver badges47 bronze badges

Comments

Andronicus · Accepted Answer · 2019-02-23 08:28:37Z

I had something similar to this although i used ajax to send the values

<div class="row mb-3" id="insert_new_item">
<div class="col-lg-6">
<p>Item Description</p>
<input value="" type="text" name="order[description]"  class="form-control product " id="" placeholder="Your Item Description">
</div>
<div class="col-lg-1 col-sm-6 col-12 mt-lg-0 mt-3">
    <p>Qty</p>
    <input placeholder="0" type="text" name="order[quantity]"  min="1" class="text-right form-control qty" id="" min="1">
</div>
<div class="col-lg-2 col-sm-6 col-12 mt-lg-0 mt-3">
    <p>Rate/Unit (&#8358; )</p>
    <input placeholder="0.00" type="text" name="order[rate]" class="text-right form-control rate" id="">
</div>
<div class="col-lg-2 mt-lg-0 mt-3">
    <p>Amount (&#8358; )</p>
    <input  type="text" name="order[amount]" id="" class="text-right form-control amount" readonly value="0" >
</div>
<div class="col-lg-1">
    <span><i class="fa fa-times text-danger  removeItem" style="font-size: 22px"></i></span>
</div>

So when i console.log(any value) i get this:

["0" : "value 1", "1" : "value 2"]

from my controller i can do this

foreach ($request->description as $key => $description) {
    $order = Order::create([
        'description' => $description,
        'amount' => $request->rate[$key],
        'quantity' => $request->quantity[$key],
        'invoice_id' => 7
     ]);

}

Abhay Sharma · Accepted Answer · 2020-12-15 07:10:15Z

0

You can insert like this,

$candidate_data = array(

            'mobile' => $request->get('mobile'),
            'password' => $request->get('password')
    );

DB::('tablename')->insert($candidate_data);

edited Dec 15, 2020 at 7:10

answered Nov 10, 2020 at 7:01

Abhay Sharma

239 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

inserting array value to database laravel

5 Answers 5

2 Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

5 Answers 5

2 Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related