Laravel - Accepting multiple names for the same column

Question

Using Laravel 5.6, we are currently writing an API that will accept input from various sources. Some sources expect to pass data in certain ways, other than the rest. I'd like our API to be as flexible as possible so we're willing to accept more than one name for a field.

For instance, if we store a first name in our table, we would store it as first_name. However some apis might pass it as firstname, or even firstName.

I can, (and currently am), on Input checking for the existence of the other field names, and if they exist, copying the contents of the other field name into the expected field name.

Here's a rough example (not exactly how we're doing it but close enough):

if (Input::has('firstname')) {
    Input::merge(['first_name'=>Input::get('firstname')]);
}

As you can see, that's pretty dirty and overtime will result in issues and become unwieldy.

One option that helps, esp with columns that have multiple possible names is to do something like the following:

$first_names = ['firstname', 'firstName', 'name1'];
foreach ($first_names as $name) {
    if (Input::has($name)) {
        Input::merge(['firstname'=>$name]);
        break;
    }    
}

I don't see any methods that might make it much easier (we can even wrap a wrapper around it so we can pass an array of possible names and the expected field name), however it's always possible to overlook a much easier solution or not know about certain functionality.

Is there an easier/more robust way of doing the above?

sdexp · Accepted Answer · 2018-09-16 20:45:40Z

1

The "null coalescing operator", new to PHP 7.0, enables you to do something like this. I.e. if the first input is set, use that, if not use the second one.

$firstname = Input::get('firstname') ?? Input::get('firstName');

From the docs...

Coalescing can be chained: this will return the first defined value out of $_GET['user'], $_POST['user'], and 'nobody'.

$username = $_GET['user'] ?? $_POST['user'] ?? 'nobody';

You can either put the null coalescing operator inside the merge(), if that's possible, or you can do something like this...

$firstname = Input::get('firstname') ?? Input::get('firstName') ?? Input::get('name1');
Input::merge(['first_name'=>$firstname]);

edited Sep 16, 2018 at 20:45

answered Sep 16, 2018 at 20:30

sdexp

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1 Comment

A quiet hum Over a year ago

Nice, thanks! I didn't realize they had added this :). Unfortunately since I'm a new user I can't upvote you. I'll keep it open for a couple of days and then accept your answer, thanks!

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