Laravel Best Practices: Request Validation

Introduction

In Laravel, request validation stands as a cornerstone for ensuring the integrity and security of incoming data. Whether handling user input or API requests, validating data before processing it is crucial. Laravel's robust validation system simplifies this task while maintaining flexibility and security.

The Importance of Request Validation

When users interact with applications, they submit data through forms or API endpoints. Validating this data becomes imperative to ensure it meets specified criteria before allowing it into the application's workflow. This process helps prevent potential security vulnerabilities, data corruption, or inappropriate content.

Normal Way of Validation

To perform validation, Laravel provides a range of validation rules and techniques. For instance, defining rules within a Controller method might look like this:

// App/Http/Controllers/UserController.php

public function login(Request $request) {
	$request->validate([
    	'email' => 'required|email',
    	'password' => 'required|min:8',
	]);
	
	// ... perform method logics.	
}

Below are some Pros and Cons of using inline request validation inside Controllers.

Pros:

Quick and suitable for small projects or simple forms.

Easily understandable and visible alongside the controller logic.

Cons:

Controller might become bloated with validation logic, making it less maintainable as the application grows.

Repeated validation rules across multiple controller methods could lead to code duplication.

Form Request Validation

Using form request classes enhances code readability and maintainability. These classes allow you to encapsulate validation logic and reuse it across multiple controller methods. By defining rules within dedicated form request classes, your controller methods remain clean and focused.

To create a form request class, use Laravel's Artisan command:

php artisan make:request UserLoginRequest

This generates a new form request class where you can define validation rules within the rules() method, just like blow:

// App/Http/Requests/UserLoginRequest.php

class UserLoginRequest extends FormRequest
{   
    public function rules(): array
    {
        return [
            'email' => 'required|email',
    		'password' => 'required|min:8',
        ];
    }
    
    public function messages()
    {
        return [
    		'password.min' => 'Password must contain atleast 8 characters.',
        ];
    }

}

And in controller you can just do this to validate the request:

// App/Http/Controllers/UserController.php

use App\Http\Requests\UserLoginRequest;

public function login(UserLoginRequest $request) {
	// ... perform method logics.	
}

Below are Pros and Cons of using separate file for validating requests.

Pros:

Encourages separation of concerns and keeps the controller clean by moving validation logic to dedicated classes.

Reusable validation rules across multiple controller methods or endpoints.

Easier to maintain and test as your application grows.

Cons:

Adds an extra layer of abstraction, which might seem unnecessary for smaller projects or simple forms.

When to Use Which:

• Inline Controller Validation:

  • Suitable for quick prototyping or small applications with minimal validation requirements.

  • If the validation logic is specific to a single controller method and unlikely to be reused elsewhere.

• Form Request Classes:

  • Recommended for larger applications or APIs where reusable validation rules and maintainability are crucial.

  • When you anticipate the need for the same validation rules across multiple endpoints or controller methods.

Best Practice:

• For scalability and maintainability, especially in larger applications, it's often best to use form request classes. They promote cleaner, more organized code and facilitate reusability of validation rules across your application.

• For small projects or simple forms, inline validation within the controller might suffice, as it's more straightforward and quicker to implement.