Eloquent ->first() if ->exists()

Question

I want to get the first row in table where condition matches:

User::where('mobile', Input::get('mobile'))->first() 

It works well, but if the condition doesn't match, it throws an Exception:

ErrorException Trying to get property of non-object 

Currently I resolve it like this:

if (User::where('mobile', Input::get('mobile'))->exists()) {     $user = User::where('mobile', Input::get('mobile'))->first() } 

Can I do this without running two queries?

Answer 1

Note: The first() method doesn't throw an exception as described in the original question. If you're getting this kind of exception, there is another error in your code.

The correct way to user first() and check for a result:

$user = User::where('mobile', Input::get('mobile'))->first(); // model or null if (!$user) {    // Do stuff if it doesn't exist. } 

Other techniques (not recommended, unnecessary overhead):

$user = User::where('mobile', Input::get('mobile'))->get();  if (!$user->isEmpty()){     $firstUser = $user->first() } 

or

try {     $user = User::where('mobile', Input::get('mobile'))->firstOrFail();     // Do stuff when user exists. } catch (ErrorException $e) {     // Do stuff if it doesn't exist. } 

or

// Use either one of the below.  $users = User::where('mobile', Input::get('mobile'))->get(); //Collection  if (count($users)){     // Use the collection, to get the first item use $users->first().     // Use the model if you used ->first(); } 

Each one is a different way to get your required result.

Answer 2

(ps - I couldn't comment) I think your best bet is something like you've done, or similar to:

$user = User::where('mobile', Input::get('mobile')); $user->exists() and $user = $user->first(); 

Oh, also: count() instead if exists but this could be something used after get.