Be part of JetBrains PHPverse 2026 on June 9 – a free online event bringing PHP devs worldwide together.
I have this simplified code example below (unfortunately it is not working):
@php
$department = null;
@endphp
@foreach ($users as $user)
<h1 class = "{{ $department === $user->department ? 'red' : 'blue'">{{ $user->name }} </h1>
@php
$department = $user->department;
@endphp
@endforeach
$users collection sent to view is ordered by department.
I would like to alternate the color for each department on the list.
The example I have above is not working. The way it is written Laravel blade is not liking the variable assignment before @endforeach, I get the squiggly lined under $user.
What would be the correct approach for assigning $user->department to the variable above the @foreach loop?
Use OOP to your advantage.
@foreach ($users as $user)
<h1 class = "{{ $user->department->getColor() }}">{{ $user->name }} </h1>
@endforeach
Then in the department add that method:
public function getColor()
{
return $this->something === 'something' ? 'red' : 'blue';
}
This breaks SRP but it is far better than what you wanted to do.
Hmm..., I would like to alternate between red and blue only and there could be many different departments. In the loop I need to switch color every time the department is different.
Somehow the loop need to keep track what was the department for previous $user.
public function getColor()
{
return [
'a' => 'red',
'b' => 'blue',
'c' => 'green',
// and so on...
][$this->something];
}
The thing is I don't know what the department names are going to be, therefore, I cannot hard code them.
This is for SASS application
Then do not make decision based on the name. Key in the array can be different things.
@guntarv Just as side note, but if all you want to do is alternating the colors it's more efficient to do it using CSS imo:
<h1 class="foo">...
// CSS
.foo:nth-child(odd) {
color: red;
}
.foo:nth-child(even) {
color: blue;
}
No need for extra queries or whatever.
Or you can use $loop variable
@foreach ($users as $user)
<h1 class="{{ $loop->even ? 'red' : 'blue' }}">{{ $user->name }}</h1>
@endforeach
If I user the $loop->even that will alternate every <h1>
In the $user collection there could be first 7 user with one department, next 2 user with different and so on...
I wan the color to be different only if there is a different department.
@bugsysha Already gave you the right solution.
Yep, but unfortunately I don't know what the department names are going to be, therefore I cannot hardcode them.
your ide does not recognise blade foreach, so, although your code is valid, your ide does not know that
That was it!! Originally it also gave an error, but that must have been typo.
Thank you @michaloravec & @bugsysha for suggestions.
Please or to participate in this conversation.