Laravel update model with unique validation rule for attribute

I have a Laravel User model which has a unique validation rule on username and email. In my Repository, when I update the model, I revalidate the fields, so as to not have a problem with required rule validation:

public function update($id, $data) {
    $user = $this->findById($id);
    $user->fill($data);
    $this->validate($user->toArray());
    $user->save();

    return $user;
}

This fails in testing with:

ValidationException: {"username":["The username has already been taken."],"email":["The email has already been taken."]}

Is there a way of fixing this elegantly?

Solution 1:

Append the id of the instance currently being updated to the validator.

1. Pass the id of your instance to ignore the unique validator.

2. In the validator, use a parameter to detect if you are updating or creating the resource.

If updating, force the unique rule to ignore a given id:

//rules
'email' => 'unique:users,email_address,' . $userId,

If creating, proceed as usual:

//rules
'email' => 'unique:users,email_address',

Solution 2:

Another elegant way...

In your model, create a static function:

public static function rules ($id=0, $merge=[]) {
    return array_merge(
        [
            'username'  => 'required|min:3|max:12|unique:users,username' . ($id ? ",$id" : ''),
            'email'     => 'required|email|unique:member'. ($id ? ",id,$id" : ''),
            'firstname' => 'required|min:2',
            'lastname'  => 'required|min:2',
            ...
        ], 
        $merge);
}

Validation on create:

$validator = Validator::make($input, User::rules());

Validation on update:

$validator = Validator::make($input, User::rules($id));

Validation on update, with some additional rules:

$extend_rules = [
    'password'       => 'required|min:6|same:password_again',
    'password_again' => 'required'
];
$validator = Validator::make($input, User::rules($id, $extend_rules));

Nice.

Solution 3:

Unique Validation With Different Column ID In Laravel

'UserEmail'=>"required|email|unique:users,UserEmail,$userID,UserID"