Import Excel data in Symfony database

If you can get your excel spreadsheet into CSV format, there is a really good package that can deal with it!

Have a look at this: http://csv.thephpleague.com/9.0/

Here's their example showing how easy it is to get your table into the DB

<?php

use League\Csv\Reader;

//We are going to insert some data into the users table
$sth = $dbh->prepare(
    "INSERT INTO users (firstname, lastname, email) VALUES (:firstname, :lastname, :email)"
);

$csv = Reader::createFromPath('/path/to/your/csv/file.csv')
    ->setHeaderOffset(0)
;

//by setting the header offset we index all records
//with the header record and remove it from the iteration

foreach ($csv as $record) {
    //Do not forget to validate your data before inserting it in your database
    $sth->bindValue(':firstname', $record['First Name'], PDO::PARAM_STR);
    $sth->bindValue(':lastname', $record['Last Name'], PDO::PARAM_STR);
    $sth->bindValue(':email', $record['E-mail'], PDO::PARAM_STR);
    $sth->execute();
}

Give it a try!

You can use fgetcsv PHP function, an exemple here.

Beford the Excel file must be changed to a CSV file.

As mentioned in a comment you can use PHPExcel. Install the library using composer

composer require phpoffice/phpexcel

A typical reader might look something like

class GameImportReaderExcel
{

    public function read($filename)
    {
        // Tosses exception
        $reader = \PHPExcel_IOFactory::createReaderForFile($filename);

        // Need this otherwise dates and such are returned formatted
        /** @noinspection PhpUndefinedMethodInspection */
        $reader->setReadDataOnly(true);

        // Just grab all the rows
        $wb = $reader->load($filename);
        $ws = $wb->getSheet(0);
        $rows = $ws->toArray();

        foreach($rows as $row) {
            // this is where you do your database stuff
            $this->processRow($row);
        }

Call the reader class from your controller

public function (Request $request)
{
    $file = $request->files->has('file') ? $request->files->get('file') : null;
    if (!$file) {
        $errors[] = 'Missing File';
    }

    $reader = new GameImportReaderExcel();
    $reader->read($file->getRealPath());

That should get you started. And yes you could convert to csv but why bother. Just as easy to read the raw file and save your users an extra step.