How to unserialize model class outside of Laravel installation?

I have a script file that is accessed directly in the browser rather than routed through laravel: mysite.test/customscript.php. In this script, I'm trying to unserialize a job class from Laravel, so I've required the autoloader as well as the bootstrap file:

require_once '../vendor/autoload.php';
$app = require_once '../bootstrap/app.php';

$payload = json_decode($job['payload'], true);
$jobObj = unserialize($payload['data']['command']);

Once the script hits the unserialize() line, it errors out with:

 PHP Fatal error:  Uncaught Error: Call to a member function connection() on null in /var/www/erp/vendor/laravel/framework/src/Illuminate/Database/Eloquent/Model.php:1825

It seems it's trying to access the database connection, which is not initialized. Is there something special I need to do instead of just requiring the bootstrap file?

If not possible I will route the PHP file through Laravel, but want to see if this is possible first.

LaryAI

1 year ago

Best Answer

Level 58

To unserialize a Laravel model outside of a Laravel application, you need to ensure that the Laravel application is fully bootstrapped, including the database connection. The error you're encountering suggests that the Eloquent model is trying to access the database connection, which hasn't been initialized properly.

Here's a step-by-step solution to address this issue:

Bootstrap the Laravel Application Properly: Ensure that the Laravel application is fully bootstrapped, including the database connection. This involves setting up the application and running the necessary service providers.
Use the Laravel Application Context: Instead of directly unserializing the job, you should run your script within the context of the Laravel application. This ensures that all necessary components, like the database connection, are available.

Here's an example of how you can modify your script to achieve this:

<?php

// Load Composer's autoloader
require_once '../vendor/autoload.php';

// Bootstrap the Laravel application
$app = require_once '../bootstrap/app.php';

// Make sure to boot the application
$app->make(Illuminate\Contracts\Console\Kernel::class)->bootstrap();

// Now you can safely unserialize the job
$payload = json_decode($job['payload'], true);

// Use the container to resolve the job class
$jobObj = unserialize($payload['data']['command']);

// Now you can work with $jobObj as needed

Key Points:

Bootstrapping: By calling $app->make(Illuminate\Contracts\Console\Kernel::class)->bootstrap();, you ensure that the application is fully bootstrapped, including the database connection and other services.
Environment Configuration: Make sure your environment configuration (like .env file) is correctly set up so that the database connection and other services can be initialized properly.
Error Handling: Consider adding error handling to catch and manage any exceptions that might occur during the unserialization process.

By following these steps, you should be able to unserialize and work with Laravel models outside of the typical Laravel routing context. If you continue to encounter issues, consider routing the script through Laravel to leverage its full capabilities.

1 like

eszterczotter

1 year ago

Level 31

Here's the thing. I don't think you're supposed to use php's serialize() and unserialize() for Eloquent models. Eloquent models are loaded with magic, which blow up when you try to unserialize them, like the connection in your error message. Also, the docs is talking only about array serialization:

https://laravel.com/docs/11.x/eloquent-serialization#serializing-models-and-collections

That's what you should do instead.

So, since you have access to json in your script, I'm hoping, maybe you also have an array of your model's attributes, not just a serialized string. If so, you could do something like this. Check this out:

/public/test.php:

<?php

use App\Models\User;

require_once '../vendor/autoload.php';
$app = require_once '../bootstrap/app.php';

$json = <<<JSON
{
"id": 1,
"email": "[email protected]"
}
JSON;

$payload = json_decode($json, true);

$user = (new User)->newInstance($payload);

dd($user);

And that's exactly what I got, a user model with the attributes from the json.

In fact, based on the comment in the method's implementation, this is exactly what Laravel is using when retrieving models from the database:

		// This method just provides a convenient way for us to generate fresh model
        // instances of this current model. It is particularly useful during the
        // hydration of new objects via the Eloquent query builder instances.

But just for the record, please make sure there is absolutely no way to get away from a script in your public folder! Is there really no way you could provide an endpoint via Laravel's routing or maybe create a job that processes your json?

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