How to Store Array in Database Laravel 10?

Hi dev,

You will discover how to store an array in a Laravel database in this article. I simply broke you how to store an array in a database step by step. You will discover how to use Laravel to save array data in a database here. I provided a clear explanation of how to store an array in a Laravel database.

You can use this example with laravel 6, laravel 7, laravel 8, laravel 9 and laravel 10 version.

In some cases, having vast amounts of data or unfixed columns prevents us from adding too many nullable fields to a database table. Therefore, in order to store values that are huge or unstructured, we must utilise the JSON data type. I'll give you a straightforward example of how to store a JSON array and access it from the database in Laravel if you want to store a JSON array in a database.

In this example, first, we will create migration with a JSON column. Then we will create a model with a getter and setter. when you create records then you can pass them as an array and when you get records then you will find an array. so let's see a simple example and learn it.

Step 1: Install Laravel

This is optional; however, if you have not created the laravel app, then you may go ahead and execute the below command:

composer create-project laravel/laravel example-app	

Step 2: Create Migration

Here, we need create database migration for "items" table with title and data(JSON Column) columns and also we will create model for items table.

php artisan make:migration create_items_table	

database/migrations/2022_07_11_141714_create_items_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('items', function (Blueprint $table) {
            $table->id();
            $table->string('title');
            $table->json('data')->nullable();
            $table->timestamps();
        });
    }
  
    /**
     * Reverse the migrations.
     *
     * @return void
     */
    public function down()
    {
        Schema::dropIfExists('items');
    }
};	

Then run migration command to create items table.

php artisan migrate

Step 3: Create Model

In this step, we will create Item.php model with getter setter. let's create model and update following code:

php artisan make:model Item	

App/Models/Item.php

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

Step 4: Create Route

In third step, we will create one route for testing. so create one route here.

routes/web.php

<?php
 
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Route;
use App\Http\Controllers\ItemController;
   
/*
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 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('item', [ItemController::class, 'index']);	

Step 5: Create Controller

In this step, we will create ItemController file and write index() method to create item records with array and access as array.

app/Http/Controllers/ItemController.php

<?php
  
namespace App\Http\Controllers;
  
use Illuminate\Http\Request;
use App\Models\Item;
  
class ItemController extends Controller
{
    /**
     * Write code on Method
     *
     * @return response()
     */
    public function index()
    {
        $input = [
            'title' => 'Demo Title',
            'data' => [
                '1' => 'One',
                '2' => 'Two',
                '3' => 'Three'
            ]
        ];
  
        $item = Item::create($input);
  
        dd($item->data);
  
    }
}	

Run Laravel App:

All the required steps have been done, now you have to type the given below command and hit enter to run the Laravel app:

php artisan serve	

Now, Go to your web browser, type the given URL and view the app output:

http://localhost:8000/item	

You can see database output and print variable output:

Output:

array:3 [

  1 => "One"

  2 => "Two"

  3 => "Three"

]	

I hope it can help you...