Level 33
I prefer #1, but simply go with #2 😆
Seriously, constrains keep your data consistent, you shouldn't neglect them.
Jul 4, 2025
4
Level 2
Foreign id schema
When creating schemas and foreign keys, do you prefer the following:
$table->foreignId('category_id')->nullable()->constrained('categories')->onDelete('cascade');
Or do you simply go with:
$table->unsignedBigInteger('category_id')->index();
And then manually handle it through models?
Level 50
Your 2nd example doesn't create a foreign key at all, so definitely not that.
Level 80
@developer654079525 Well the second example doesn’t actually create a foreign key; it’s just creating an unsigned integer column with zero constraints (whilst a foreign key is a type of index, an index itself is not a foreign key).
Level 74
I will just put this here
https://tray2.se/posts/properly-formed-foreign-keys-are-your-best-friends
Please or to participate in this conversation.