Laravel How to add a field to a table

Learn how to add a field to your Laravel database table with an example.

Adding a Field to a Table with Laravel

Adding a field to a table in Laravel is a relatively straightforward process. The steps outlined below are for adding a field to an existing table using the Laravel migration command.

Step 1: Create a Migration File

The first step in adding a field to a table is to create a new migration file. Migration files are responsible for making changes to the database, such as creating tables, altering table structure, and adding columns. Using the Artisan CLI, a new migration file can be created with the command:

php artisan make:migration add_field_to_table

This will create a new file in the database/migrations directory named something like [timestamp]_add_field_to_table.php. The timestamp will be the time the file was created in UTC.

Step 2: Migrate the File

The next step is to migrate the new file. This will add the new field to the table. To do this, use the migrate command:

php artisan migrate

This will run all of the pending migrations in the application. If the migration file was created correctly, the new field should now be part of the table.

Step 3: Adding Data

The final step is to add data to the new field. This can be done manually, or by using a seed file. To add data manually, use the DB facade to insert data into the table:

DB::table('table_name')->insert(
    [
        'field_name' => 'value',
    ]
);

To add data using a seed file, create a new seed file with the command:

php artisan make:seed seed_name

This will create a new seed file in the database/seeds directory named seed_name.php. Inside of this file, add data to the table using the Eloquent model:

ModelName::create([
    'field_name' => 'value',
]);

Finally, run the seed with the command:

php artisan db:seed --class=seed_name

The new field should now have data in it.

Adding a field to a table in Laravel is a relatively straightforward process. By following the steps above, a field can be added to an existing table with minimal effort.