Laravel Checking If a Record Exists

Question

I am new to Laravel. How do I find if a record exists?

$user = User::where('email', '=', Input::get('email'));

What can I do here to see if $user has a record?

Well to start you need to execute a findOrFail() or similar on the $user query — Mark Baker, Nov 23 '14 at 22:26
Then what does it do? Why doesn't it help? `$user = User::where('email', '=', Input::get('email'));` simply creates a query in `$user`, you need to execute that query. `findOrFail()` is one way of executing that query. `get()` would be another way, `firstOrFail()` another — Mark Baker, Nov 23 '14 at 22:30
If a suggestion "doesn't really help" try saying ___why___ it doesn't really help, because that way it means we know how to improve/change that suggestion — Mark Baker, Nov 23 '14 at 22:34
consider this https://i.imgur.com/ulqyOiw.png no need to reinvent the wheel — nikoss, Oct 23 '17 at 01:34

score 832 · Accepted Answer · edited Jun 11 '15 at 09:11

832

It depends if you want to work with the user afterwards or only check if one exists.

If you want to use the user object if it exists:

$user = User::where('email', '=', Input::get('email'))->first();
if ($user === null) {
   // user doesn't exist
}

And if you only want to check

if (User::where('email', '=', Input::get('email'))->count() > 0) {
   // user found
}

Or even nicer

if (User::where('email', '=', Input::get('email'))->exists()) {
   // user found
}

edited Jun 11 '15 at 09:11

Limon Monte

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answered Nov 23 '14 at 22:31

lukasgeiter

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if you call `exists()` against a non existent record then it gives error: `Call to a member function exists() on null` – Volatil3 Sep 02 '15 at 17:54
53

@Volatil3 You are doing something wrong. You can't call exists after you've already ran the query – lukasgeiter Sep 02 '15 at 18:20
13

@lukasgeiter guess you are right. I had already called `first()` – Volatil3 Sep 02 '15 at 18:27
I used to use -> $email_exists = DB::table('users')->select('email')->where('email', $request->email)->count(); but your method is better :) – Combine Oct 25 '15 at 07:26
alternatively, `if (!User::where('email', '=', Input::get('email'))->exists())...` could work – jshbrmn Jan 06 '16 at 15:48
2

I think this is the better way to find if User is exists. User::where('email', '=', 'value')->count() > 0; – Janaka Pushpakumara Feb 18 '16 at 04:27
@JanakaPushpakumara That alone has sometimes caused me error. I also add `&& isset()` – Pathros Sep 07 '17 at 19:58
exists() might be a good option too but I feel like it is not the most optimised way, is it? – Agil Dec 31 '17 at 11:01
6

@Volatil3 i just tested ->exists() with laravel 5.5, it says false if it doesn't exist. – Pezhvak Jan 31 '18 at 09:30
1

FYI, you can leave out the '=' value: `User::where('email', Input::get('email'))->exists();` – Roark Mar 22 '18 at 06:47
1

Why making SQL to continue counting rows with `count` after it has already found one? `Exists` is more appropriate here - it stops right after finding one match. Even if performance difference might be negligible, still it expresses the intention better. – JustAMartin Oct 04 '18 at 09:33
What if you want to check for multiple row exist? – umarbilal Oct 10 '18 at 07:12
@Pezhvak Same here with laravel 7.x – BonisTech Sep 04 '20 at 21:57
1

in laravel 8.x ;exists() returns false if no row found.so it is safe to use. – simpson Aug 29 '21 at 17:57
Not working with milliseconds case. Is there any way to fix this? – Inderjeet Sep 18 '21 at 05:12

score 82 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 21 '17 at 12:44

82

if (User::where('email', Input::get('email'))->exists()) {
    // exists
}

answered Dec 21 '17 at 12:44

lucidlogic

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8

This should be the accepted answer. The most efficient and dedicated way to do it is through the `exists()` method. – Robo Robok Sep 02 '19 at 11:24

score 45 · Answer 3 · edited Oct 10 '21 at 15:22

45

In laravel eloquent, has default exists() method, refer followed example.

if (User::where('id', $user_id )->exists()) {
    // your code...
}

edited Oct 10 '21 at 15:22

linktoahref

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answered Aug 11 '19 at 06:23

Dhanushka Udayanga

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score 32 · Answer 4 · edited Mar 01 '19 at 14:04

32

One of the best solution is to use the firstOrNew or firstOrCreate method. The documentation has more details on both.

edited Mar 01 '19 at 14:04

Chuck Le Butt

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answered Feb 22 '16 at 18:35

tapos ghosh

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while not fitting the question, still, very useful functions. the difference between the two is that firstOrNew **instantiates** an instance of the model called while firstOrCreate saves the queried model instantly so you need to update changes on the firstOrCreate'd model. – Gokigooooks Feb 27 '16 at 01:36
Yep, or another way of thinking of it is, use *firstOrCreate* if you can pass all the attributes in one go (use the second parameter), but *firstOrNew* if you're going to need further logic before saving. – William Turrell May 06 '19 at 10:25

score 20 · Answer 5 · answered Jul 25 '17 at 03:17

20

if($user->isEmpty()){
    // has no records
}

Eloquent uses collections. See the following link: https://laravel.com/docs/5.4/eloquent-collections

answered Jul 25 '17 at 03:17

Nabil

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Yeah but its not returning a collection. It's returning a single model object as you would assume each user has a unique `email` so `->isEmpty()` will throw an error. – user3574492 May 10 '18 at 08:46
And what if I get the following error: `Call to a member function isEmpty() on null` – Pathros Aug 28 '18 at 16:02

score 13 · Answer 6 · answered Jul 11 '18 at 07:07

Laravel 5.6.26v

to find the existing record through primary key ( email or id )

    $user = DB::table('users')->where('email',$email)->first();

then

      if(!$user){
             //user is not found 
      }
      if($user){
             // user found 
      }

include " use DB " and table name user become plural using the above query like user to users

score 10 · Answer 7 · answered Apr 05 '22 at 20:08

It is a bit late but it might help someone who is trying to use User::find()->exists() for record existence as Laravel shows different behavior for find() and where() methods. Considering email as your primary key let's examine the situation.

$result = User::find($email)->exists();

If a user record with that email exists then it will return true. However the confusing thing is that if no user with that email exists then it will throw an error. i.e

Call to a member function exists() on null.

But the case is different for where() thing.

$result = User::where("email", $email)->exists();

The above clause will give true if record exists and false if record doesn't exists. So always try to use where() for record existence and not find() to avoid NULL error.

doncadavona · Answer 8 · 2020-11-19T04:50:49.573

9

if (User::where('email', 'user@email.com')->first()) {
    // It exists
} else {
    // It does not exist
}

Use first(), not count() if you only need to check for existence.

first() is faster because it checks for a single match whereas count() counts all matches.

edited Nov 19 '20 at 04:50

answered Feb 15 '19 at 05:39

doncadavona

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score 8 · Answer 9 · answered Mar 25 '19 at 09:50

8

This will check if requested email exist in the user table:

if (User::where('email', $request->email)->exists()) {
   //email exists in user table
}

answered Mar 25 '19 at 09:50

A. Zaman

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score 3 · Answer 10 · answered May 11 '17 at 07:29

In your Controller

$this->validate($request, [
        'email' => 'required|unique:user|email',
    ]);

In your View - Display Already Exist Message

@if (count($errors) > 0)
    <div class="alert alert-danger">
        <ul>
            @foreach ($errors->all() as $error)
                <li>{{ $error }}</li>
            @endforeach
        </ul>
    </div>
@endif

score 3 · Answer 11 · answered Mar 11 '21 at 07:39

3

I solved this, using empty() function:

$user = User::where('email', Input::get('email'))->get()->first();
//for example:
if (!empty($user))
    User::destroy($user->id);

answered Mar 11 '21 at 07:39

Arian Tron

39
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Mathesh Raj · Answer 12 · 2022-07-20T08:52:43.253

2

$user = User::where('email', request('email'))->first();
return (count($user) > 0 ? 'Email Exist' : 'Email Not Exist');

edited Jul 20 '22 at 08:52

answered Jul 04 '17 at 12:14

Mathesh Raj

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score 2 · Answer 13 · answered Jul 09 '18 at 04:04

2

Checking for null within if statement prevents Laravel from returning 404 immediately after the query is over.

if ( User::find( $userId ) === null ) {

    return "user does not exist";
}
else {
    $user = User::find( $userId );

    return $user;
}

It seems like it runs double query if the user is found, but I can't seem to find any other reliable solution.

answered Jul 09 '18 at 04:04

Arthur Tarasov

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9
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You could replace `find` with `where`. `User::where(id, 1)->first()` – Edgar Ortega Feb 12 '19 at 04:04

score 2 · Answer 14 · answered Jan 23 '19 at 09:54

2

if ($u = User::where('email', '=', $value)->first())
{
   // do something with $u
   return 'exists';
} else {
  return 'nope';
}

would work with try/catch

->get() would still return an empty array

answered Jan 23 '19 at 09:54

Julian

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score 2 · Answer 15 · answered Aug 07 '19 at 04:20

2

$email = User::find($request->email);
If($email->count()>0)
<h1>Email exist, please make new email address</h1>
endif

answered Aug 07 '19 at 04:20

Basharmal

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10
30

score 2 · Answer 16 · answered Jun 28 '20 at 10:30

Simple, comfortable and understandable with Validator

class CustomerController extends Controller
{
    public function register(Request $request)
    {

        $validator = Validator::make($request->all(), [
            'name' => 'required|string|max:255',
            'email' => 'required|string|email|max:255|unique:customers',
            'phone' => 'required|string|max:255|unique:customers',
            'password' => 'required|string|min:6|confirmed',
        ]);

        if ($validator->fails()) {
            return response(['errors' => $validator->errors()->all()], 422);
        }

score 2 · Answer 17 · answered Oct 12 '21 at 10:27

you have seen plenty of solution, but magical checking syntax can be like,

$model = App\Flight::findOrFail(1);

$model = App\Flight::where('legs', '>', 100)->firstOrFail();

it will automatically raise an exception with response 404, when not found any related models Sometimes you may wish to throw an exception if a model is not found. This is particularly useful in routes or controllers. The fingernail and firstOrFail methods will retrieve the first result of the query; however, if no result is found, an Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\ModelNotFoundException will be thrown.

Ref: https://laravel.com/docs/5.8/eloquent#retrieving-single-models

score 1 · Answer 18 · answered Dec 31 '17 at 20:27

1

This will check if particular email address exist in the table:

if (isset(User::where('email', Input::get('email'))->value('email')))
{
    // Input::get('email') exist in the table 
}

answered Dec 31 '17 at 20:27

Syed Muzammil Ali

11
2

wheelmaker · Answer 19 · 2018-09-30T06:23:05.810

1

Shortest working options:

// if you need to do something with the user 
if ($user = User::whereEmail(Input::get('email'))->first()) {

    // ...

}

// otherwise
$userExists = User::whereEmail(Input::get('email'))->exists();

edited Sep 30 '18 at 06:23

answered Sep 30 '18 at 01:58

wheelmaker

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2
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score 1 · Answer 20 · answered Oct 16 '18 at 19:35

$user = User::where('email', '=', Input::get('email'))->first();
if ($user === null) {
   // user doesn't exist
}

can be written as

if (User::where('email', '=', Input::get('email'))->first() === null) {
   // user doesn't exist
}

This will return true or false without assigning a temporary variable if that is all you are using $user for in the original statement.

score 1 · Answer 21 · edited Dec 13 '22 at 00:13

1

I think below way is the simplest way to achieving same :

    $user = User::where('email', '=', $request->input('email'))->first();
    if ($user) {
       // user exist!
    }else{
       // user does not exist
    }

edited Dec 13 '22 at 00:13

Afaq choudhary

38
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answered Jan 23 '19 at 12:17

ShuBham GuPta

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Hamid Teimouri · Answer 22 · 2021-06-06T06:30:58.003

0

You can use laravel validation if you want to insert a unique record:

$validated = $request->validate([
    'title' => 'required|unique:usersTable,emailAddress|max:255',
]);

But also you can use these ways:

1:

if (User::where('email',  $request->email)->exists())
{
  // object exists
} else {
  // object not found
}

2:

$user = User::where('email',  $request->email)->first();

if ($user)
{
  // object exists
} else {
  // object not found
}

3:

$user = User::where('email',  $request->email)->first();

if ($user->isNotEmpty())
{
  // object exists
} else {
  // object not found
}

4:

$user = User::where('email',  $request->email)->firstOrCreate([
      'email' => 'email'
],$request->all());

edited Jun 06 '21 at 06:30

answered Oct 31 '17 at 13:08

Hamid Teimouri

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4
8

1

Please consider that `count` method counts records and it is not good performance-wise in this scenario. – AliN11 Jan 17 '21 at 10:10
@AliN11 I did not use `count` method – Hamid Teimouri Oct 23 '21 at 13:06

score 0 · Answer 23 · answered Jan 23 '19 at 19:19

0

Created below method (for myself) to check if the given record id exists on Db table or not.

private function isModelRecordExist($model, $recordId)
{
    if (!$recordId) return false;

    $count = $model->where(['id' => $recordId])->count();

    return $count ? true : false;
}

// To Test
$recordId = 5;
$status = $this->isModelRecordExist( (new MyTestModel()), $recordId);

Home It helps!

answered Jan 23 '19 at 19:19

rc.adhikari

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Note that by using `count`, you are counting a certain record throughout the table. While the `exists` method returns `true` if the table contains at least one desired record. – AliN11 Jan 17 '21 at 10:05

score 0 · Answer 24 · answered Dec 31 '19 at 06:58

The Easiest Way to do

    public function update(Request $request, $id)
{


    $coupon = Coupon::where('name','=',$request->name)->first(); 

    if($coupon->id != $id){
        $validatedData = $request->validate([
            'discount' => 'required',   
            'name' => 'required|unique:coupons|max:255',      
        ]);
    }


    $requestData = $request->all();
    $coupon = Coupon::findOrFail($id);
    $coupon->update($requestData);
    return redirect('admin/coupons')->with('flash_message', 'Coupon updated!');
}

score 0 · Answer 25 · answered Feb 01 '20 at 13:50

Laravel 6 or on the top: Write the table name, then give where clause condition for instance where('id', $request->id)

 public function store(Request $request)
    {

        $target = DB:: table('categories')
                ->where('title', $request->name)
                ->get()->first();
        if ($target === null) { // do what ever you need to do
            $cat = new Category();
            $cat->title = $request->input('name');
            $cat->parent_id = $request->input('parent_id');
            $cat->user_id=auth()->user()->id;
            $cat->save();
            return redirect(route('cats.app'))->with('success', 'App created successfully.');

        }else{ // match found 
            return redirect(route('cats.app'))->with('error', 'App already exists.');
        }

    }

score 0 · Answer 26 · answered May 19 '21 at 08:41

If you want to insert a record in the database if a record with the same email not exists then you can do as follows:

$user = User::updateOrCreate(
    ['email' => Input::get('email')],
    ['first_name' => 'Test', 'last_name' => 'Test']
);

The updateOrCreate method's first argument lists the column(s) that uniquely identify records within the associated table while the second argument consists of the values to insert or update.

You can check out the docs here: Laravel upserts doc

score 0 · Answer 27 · answered Oct 06 '21 at 11:03

0

$userCnt     = User::where("id",1)->count();
if( $userCnt ==0 ){
     //////////record not exists 
}else{
      //////////record exists 
}

Note :: Where condition according your requirements.

answered Oct 06 '21 at 11:03

Suresh Kumar Kumawat

109
6

score 0 · Answer 28 · answered Jul 27 '22 at 03:20

Simply use this one to get true or false

$user = User::where('email', '=', Input::get('email'))->exists();
if you want $user with result you can use this one,

$user = User::where('email', '=', Input::get('email'))->get();

and check result like this,

if(count($user)>0){}

Other wise you can use like this one,

$user = User::where('email', '=', Input::get('email'));

if($user->exists()){ $user = $user->get(); }

score 0 · Answer 29 · answered Feb 24 '23 at 21:04

0

You can try this for a boolean result as true or false

$columns = [
    'email' => "email@example.com",
];
$exists = User::exists($columns);

if($exists)
     ...some code

answered Feb 24 '23 at 21:04

Furkan ozturk

654
8
26

score -1 · Answer 30 · answered Feb 09 '20 at 22:09

The efficient way to check if the record exists you must use is_null method to check against the query.

The code below might be helpful:

$user = User::where('email', '=', Input::get('email'));
if(is_null($user)){
 //user does not exist...
}else{
 //user exists...
}

Januar · Answer 31 · 2023-08-10T05:06:29.993

In Controller :

            public function validation(Request $request)
            {
            $email= $request->input('email');

            if (DB::table('customer')->where('email','=',$email)->exists())
            {
                echo 'EXIST';
            } else {
                echo 'DOESNT EXIST';
            }}

HTML form :

<input id="email" name="email" type="email" placeholder="Email">

Route :

Route::post('/login', [LoginController::class,'validation']);

score -4 · Answer 32 · answered Mar 14 '17 at 10:47

-4

It's simple to get to know if there are any records or not

$user = User::where('email', '=', Input::get('email'))->get();
if(count($user) > 0)
{
echo "There is data";
}
else
echo "No data";

answered Mar 14 '17 at 10:47

Rashi Goyal

933
9
15

Fetching all records, then counting?! – AliN11 Jan 17 '21 at 10:13

ram pratap singh · Answer 33 · 2017-03-29T11:24:47.677

-15

this is simple code to check email is exist or not in database


    $data = $request->all();
    $user = DB::table('User')->pluck('email')->toArray();
    if(in_array($user,$data['email']))
    {
    echo 'existed email';
    }

edited Mar 29 '17 at 11:24

answered Mar 29 '17 at 11:17

ram pratap singh

53
8

11

If you have a table User with ...say over1,000,000,000 records, you'll be checking for a veeeeeeery long time – TrueStory Apr 15 '17 at 12:27

Laravel Checking If a Record Exists

33 Answers33

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