Laravel validate at least one item in a form array

Question

I have a form with a series of numbers in an array:

<input type="number" name="items[{{ $sku }}]" min="0" />
<input type="number" name="items[{{ $sku }}]" min="0" />
<input type="number" name="items[{{ $sku }}]" min="0" />

I would like to validate that there is at least one of those input fields that has a value.

I tried the following in my OrderCreateRequest, yet the test is passing:

return [
    'items' => 'required|array|min:1'
];

Am I missing something?

score 17 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 18 '17 at 14:27

17

I think you need a custom validation rule like the following because min is not for the elements of the array.

Validator::extend('check_array', function ($attribute, $value, $parameters, $validator) {
     return count(array_filter($value, function($var) use ($parameters) { return ( $var && $var >= $parameters[0]); }));
});

You can create ValidatorServiceProvider and you can add these lines to boot method of ValidatorServiceProvider. Then you need to add Provider to your providers array in config/app.php.

App\Providers\ValidatorServiceProvider::class,

Or you just add them top of the action of your controller.

At the end you can use it like this in your validation rules.

'items' => 'check_array:1',

Note: if I understand you correctly it works.

answered Aug 18 '17 at 14:27

Hakan SONMEZ

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Great solution! Thank you. – Miguel Stevens Aug 21 '17 at 17:34
1

dont forget to add `'check_array' => 'at least one item is required',` to `langs/*/validation.php` – ctf0 May 01 '19 at 19:13
for some reason this now always return `0` check http://sandbox.onlinephpfunctions.com/code/7781961e4dd2aee88a4e873d52c8f2a4c994932b – ctf0 Jul 18 '19 at 14:36
Your code has some logical errors. so you should try like this http://sandbox.onlinephpfunctions.com/code/d0447c13a3a166373dd0ff18b300f7bb5b7272b8 – Hakan SONMEZ Jul 18 '19 at 15:35
The string value of a date 01/08/2021 fails the validator (php 7.4.8) since the parameter is a string and the slash breaks the behavior, I would use `!empty($var)` instead – Broshi Jul 26 '21 at 08:06

Jakhongir · Answer 2 · 2021-04-26T07:01:00.007

11

In addition ot Hakan SONMEZ's answer, to check if at least one array element is set, the Rule object can be used. For example create rule class and name it ArrayAtLeastOneRequired().

To create new rule class run console command:

php artisan make:rule ArrayAtLeastOneRequired

Then in created class edit method passes():

public function passes($attribute, $value)
    {
        foreach ($value as $arrayElement) {
            if (null !== $arrayElement) {
                return true;
            }
        }

        return false;
    }

Use this rule to check if at least one element of array is not null:

Validator::make($request->all(), [
  'array' => [new ArrayAtLeastOneRequired()],
 ]);

edited Apr 26 '21 at 07:01

answered Dec 15 '18 at 09:40

Jakhongir

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11

1

Great answer! Please note the validation rule should be applied to the array `'array'` and not to the array element `'array.*'` otherwise the foreach loop won't be able to iterate . – LobsterBaz Apr 24 '21 at 01:13
This is precisely what I was looking for. Thank you! – JasonJensenDev Feb 16 '23 at 20:35

score 5 · Answer 3 · edited Apr 08 '19 at 10:19

5

If you are using this in your controller file then I guess it should be

$this->validate($request, [
    'items' => 'required|min:1'
]);

or this one

$validator = Validator::make($request->all(), [
    "items.*" => 'required|min:1',
]);

you can refer How to validate array in Laravel? to this as well.

edited Apr 08 '19 at 10:19

linktoahref

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answered Aug 18 '17 at 14:36

Umer

142
9

1

second example with `items.*` will check that all values in items array should have at-least 1 character in it, but here we have to validate to minimum 1 element should be there in array so, first example is right but second one is wrong because it will check values. – Haritsinh Gohil Jul 25 '19 at 07:17
First example is wrong as well because it would pass an array with a single null value. This answer doesn't address the question and shouldn't be upvoted. – LobsterBaz Apr 24 '21 at 00:47
Not correct . i tried it – mercury Apr 04 '22 at 23:44

Haritsinh Gohil · Answer 4 · 2019-07-25T11:28:58.677

The accepted answer is ok, and it is working fine, but if you don't want to create function and other stuff then the another workaround which i have used is

that you can directly state the element of array as items.0 and make that input required, it will not care about other inputs but it will make first input required, it is not usable in all the cases but in my case it is useful.

in your OrderCreateRequest:

public function rules()
{
   return [
       "items.0" => "required",
   ];
}

And if your items are not dynamic and not in very large amount then you can use required_without_all as below:

public function rules()
{
   return [
       "items.0" => "required_without_all:items.1,items.2",
       "items.1" => "required_without_all:items.0,items.2",
       "items.2" => "required_without_all:items.0,items.1",
   ];
}

score -1 · Answer 5 · answered Apr 24 '21 at 12:01

"size" rule is used to match exact no. of items in array (if incoming parameter is an array) and same goes for "min" rule i.e it count minimum no. of elements in an array (if incoming parameter is an array)

$this->validate($request, ['my_array' => 'size:6']); // array must have 6 items

$this->validate($request, ['my_array' => 'min:1']); // there must be 1 item in array

https://laravel.com/docs/8.x/validation#rule-size

Gragio · Answer 6 · 2017-08-18T14:30:58.197

-2

You can set your rules for array and foreach elements.

public function rulez(Request $req) {
        $v = Validator::make($req->all(), [
            'items'   => 'required|array|min:1',
            'items.*' => 'required|integer|between:0,10'

        ]);

        if ($v->fails())
            return $v->errors()->all();
}

First rule say that items must be an array with 1 element at least. Second rule say that each elements of items must be an integer between 0 and 10.

If the rules seem not to work, try to dump your $req->all().

dump($req->all());

edited Aug 18 '17 at 14:30

answered Aug 18 '17 at 14:03

Gragio

17
2
3

1

that means all elements of input array are required and they can be minimum 1. He wants a validation rule which makes at least one element of array is required and others are optional. – Hakan SONMEZ Aug 18 '17 at 14:05
ok, you can use `'items' => 'required|array|min:1'` Are you sure to receive the Request parameters correctly? – Gragio Aug 18 '17 at 14:13
Please add a short explanation. – Mr Mush Aug 18 '17 at 14:15
I am not the one asked the question. – Hakan SONMEZ Aug 18 '17 at 14:15

score -2 · Answer 7 · answered Jul 10 '18 at 10:34

-2

'items'   => 'required|array', // validate that field must be from array type and at least has one value
'items.*' => 'integer' // validate that every element in that array must be from integer type

and you can add any other validation rules for those elements like: 'items.*' => 'integer|min:0|max:100'

answered Jul 10 '18 at 10:34

Omar

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the `min` attribute has nothing to do with the count items, instead it checks the value itself – behz4d Feb 20 '19 at 08:39
@behz4d and that what i meant to check the elements. `*` here it means apply the rules on every element in this array. not checking the count – Omar Feb 21 '19 at 13:55

score -2 · Answer 8 · edited Apr 03 '20 at 07:54

-2

$valid = Validator($request->all(), [
    'type' => 'required|string|in:city,region,country',
]);

if ($valid->fails()) return response()->json($valid->errors(), 400);

edited Apr 03 '20 at 07:54

Buddy

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answered Apr 03 '20 at 07:49

Dmitry Shilin

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a verbal explanation is often helpful – con Apr 03 '20 at 17:19
This answer is incorrect and doesn't answer the question. – LobsterBaz Apr 24 '21 at 00:49
Incorrect answer. – Mahmudul Hasan Aug 29 '23 at 23:59

score -3 · Answer 9 · answered Aug 18 '17 at 14:07

-3

$this->validate($request,[
'item'=>'required|min:1'

]);

answered Aug 18 '17 at 14:07

Kuldeep Mishra

3,846
1
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26

Incorrect answer. – Mahmudul Hasan Aug 29 '23 at 23:59

Laravel validate at least one item in a form array

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