How to skip validation for array that is empty?

Question

I have an incoming post data from js like this

[form] => Array (
    [name] => 'a form'
    [type] => 'form'
    ...
    [children] => Array (
        [0] => 
        [1] => 
        [2] => Array(
            [title] => 'first'
            [order] => '1'
            ...
        }
        [3] => Array(
            [title] => 'second'
            [order] => '2'
            ...
        )
        ...
    )
    ...
)

and rules like

[
    'form.name' => 'required|string',
    'form.type' => 'required|string',
    ...
    'form.children.*.title' => 'requered|string'
    'form.children.*.order' => 'requered|integer'
    ...
]

What is the best way to completely exclude/skip the form.children arrays that are empty and process the ones with data?

if they're nullable, they're not required. replace "required" with "nullable" — MrEvers
– MrEvers, Commented Dec 12, 2020 at 9:17
@MrEvers unfortunately they are. That is actually why I was asking. — Skeletor
– Skeletor, Commented Dec 12, 2020 at 9:52

Dimitri Mostrey · Accepted Answer · 2020-12-12 10:41:01Z

1

Try this:

[
    'form.name' => 'required|string',
    'form.type' => 'required|string',
    ...
    'form.children.*.title' => 'sometimes|string'
    'form.children.*.order' => 'sometimes|integer'
    ...
]

Sometimes means, if there is something, follow the next rule(s).

https://laravel.com/docs/8.x/validation#validating-when-present

Addition:

For more complex situations, f.ex. you are not interested in an order value if there is no title, makes sense right? Try this:

[
    'form.name' => 'required|string',
    'form.type' => 'required|string',
    ...
    'form.children.*.title' => 'sometimes|string'
    'form.children.*.order' => 'exclude_if:form.children.*.title,null|integer'
    ...
]

I have never tested/used this on arrays though.

edited Dec 12, 2020 at 10:41

answered Dec 12, 2020 at 10:30

Dimitri Mostrey

2,3551 gold badge14 silver badges12 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

Skeletor · Accepted Answer · 2020-12-12 11:50:34Z

0

I managed to completely remove the empty arrays just by filtering them out of the request with laravel's prepareForValidation() method and array_filter(). Worked great for me.

protected function prepareForValidation()
{
    $this->merge([
        "form" => [
            "children" => array_filter($this->form["children"])
        ]
    ]);
}

@DimitriMostrey's answer worked as well. His answer is a shorter solution without an additional method. Will accept his answer so anyone facing a similar situation can pick the one that suits the most.

answered Dec 12, 2020 at 11:50

Skeletor

3,4435 gold badges36 silver badges60 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to skip validation for array that is empty?

2 Answers 2

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related