laravel validate multiple models

Question

I would like a best practice for this kind of problem

I have items, categories and category_item table for a many to many relationship

I have 2 models with these validations rules

class Category extends Basemodel {

    public static $rules = array(
        'name'   => 'required|min:2|max:255'
    );
....


class Item extends BaseModel {

    public static $rules = array(
        'title'   => 'required|min:5|max:255',
        'content' => 'required'
    );
....


class Basemodel extends Eloquent{

    public static function validate($data){
        return Validator::make($data, static::$rules);
    }
}

I don't know how to validate these 2 sets of rules from only one form with category, title and content fields.

For the moment I just have a validation for the item but I don't know what's the best to do:

• create a new set of rules in my controller -> but it seems redundant
• sequentially validate Item then category -> but I don't know how to handle validations errors, do I have to merges them? and how?
• a 3rd solution I'm unaware of

here is my ItemsController@store method

/**
 * Store a newly created item in storage.
 *
 * @return Redirect
 */
public function store()
{
    $validation= Item::validate(Input::all());
    if($validation->passes()){
        $new_recipe = new Item();
        $new_recipe->title    = Input::get('title');
        $new_recipe->content = Input::get('content');
        $new_recipe->creator_id = Auth::user()->id;
        $new_recipe->save();

        return Redirect::route('home')
            ->with('message','your item has been added');
    }
    else{
        return Redirect::route('items.create')->withErrors($validation)->withInput();
    }
}

I am very interested on some clue about this subject

thanks

Answer 1

One way, as you pointed yourself, is to validate it sequentially:

/**
 * Store a newly created item in storage.
 *
 * @return Redirect
 */
public function store()
{
    $itemValidation = Item::validate(Input::all());
    $categoryValidation = Category::validate(Input::all());

    if($itemValidation->passes() and $categoryValidation->passes()){
        $new_recipe = new Item();
        $new_recipe->title    = Input::get('title');
        $new_recipe->content = Input::get('content');
        $new_recipe->creator_id = Auth::user()->id;
        $new_recipe->save();

        return Redirect::route('home')
            ->with('message','your item has been added');
    }
    else{
        return Redirect::route('items.create')
            ->with('errors', array_merge_recursive(
                                    $itemValidation->messages()->toArray(), 
                                    $categoryValidation->messages()->toArray()
                            )
                )
            ->withInput();
    }
}

The other way would be to create something like an Item Repository (domain) to orchestrate your items and categories (models) and use a Validation Service (that you'll need to create too) to validate your forms.

Chris Fidao book, Implementing Laravel, explains that wonderfully.