Laravel validation: required field in not required array

Question

Request can contain field coord ({x: 1, y: 2}) or not contain it. For example:

Correct (without coord):

[
    'another_param' => 'value',
],

Correct:

[
    'another_param' => 'value',
    'coord' => [
        'x' => 1,
        'y' => 2,
    ],
],

Invalid (wrong format of coord):

[
    'another_param' => 'value',
    'coord' => [
        'x' => 1,
    ],
],

Whether it can be written by standard rules (without custom and closures).

My attempt:

'rules' => [
    'coord' => 'array',
    'coord.x' => 'required',
    'coord.y' => 'required',
],

But if a request don't contain coord then Error: The coord.x field is required.

Phiter · Accepted Answer · 2018-08-28 16:09:21Z

3

You can use the sometimes validation rule so it only applies when the field is present.

'rules' => [
    'coord' => 'sometimes|array',
    'coord.x' => 'required',
    'coord.y' => 'required',
],

answered Aug 28, 2018 at 16:09

Phiter

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4 Comments

Andrew Over a year ago

There is also the nullable option that might be needed if the value exists but is null laravel.com/docs/5.6/validation#a-note-on-optional-fields

vasa_c Over a year ago

No, it's not working for input without "coord": the coord.x is required & the coord.y is required.

Phiter Over a year ago

try adding sometimes|required to those two also

vasa_c Over a year ago

Phiter, then empty "coord" will be valid.

Taras Sendega · Accepted Answer · 2021-08-11 05:30:35Z

1

Not sure if it's still actual but here's how I solved it:

'rules' => [
    'coord' => ['nullable', 'array'],
    'coord.x' => 'required_unless:coord,null',
    'coord.y' => 'required_unless:coord,null',
],

answered Aug 11, 2021 at 5:30

Taras Sendega

111 bronze badge

Comments

Devon Bessemer · Accepted Answer · 2018-08-28 16:49:49Z

0

You can require the fields when the array is provided using required_with:

'rules' => [
    'coord' => 'sometimes|array|min:1',
    'coord.x' => 'required_with:coord',
    'coord.y' => 'required_with:coord',
],

The sometimes rule allows this field to be discarded and min:1 ensures when this coord field is provided, it's not an empty array.

edited Aug 28, 2018 at 16:49

answered Aug 28, 2018 at 16:28

Devon Bessemer

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6 Comments

vasa_c Over a year ago

1. empty coord will be valid. 2. if I have 10 field I must write these all for each?

Devon Bessemer Over a year ago

You could use nullable or sometimes on the coord itself. Just required_with:coord may work on all of the fields, haven't tried it

vasa_c Over a year ago

maybe, but it more ugly then write custom closure for validation

Devon Bessemer Over a year ago

why is it more ugly? it's only a few more characters than required.

vasa_c Over a year ago

ugliness is not measured by the number of characters :)

|

xavidejuan · Accepted Answer · 2020-07-28 09:15:29Z

-1

You can try validating the array fields as coord.*.x I mean:

'rules' => [
    'coord' => 'array',
    'coord.*.x' => 'required',
    'coord.*.y' => 'required',
],

Then if coord array has an element, x and y will be required

answered Jul 28, 2020 at 9:15

xavidejuan

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1 Comment

Ján Janočko Over a year ago

This would be valid for case, when coord is an actual array of x,y tuples, but it only contains x and y directly as elements.

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