Level 122
converts to string when it is cast to string
Jun 2, 2023
16
Level 1
Str::of to string
I have a question at what point does php automatically transform a variable into a string?
Str::of('test')->trim();
not work
if (Str::of('test')->trim() === 'test') {
return true;
}
in this case I need to use a toString()
but there are some situations where it automatically converts to a string
(string)Str::of('test')->trim() or when i try to insert into database using pdo bindParam
Level 1
Is there any way to return null if the input data is null?
Level 70
@elvisdosreis I am not sure which version you are using.
But if you use Laravel 9 or above, you can do this:
str("test")->trim()->toString()
It should return you as a string.
Level 1
returns an empty string I need to return null, because the database accepts null and not an empty string
Level 122
@elvisdosreis this data does not come from a request? By default Laravel converts empty strings to null in a global middleware.
The heart of it is a simple ternary;
return $value === '' ? null : $value;
Level 1
Yes, the middleware already does the work of transforming the field from empty to null, more so in a situation where I have a table with a foreign key where I can receive the value null or a string in lowercase, when doing the command Str::of('test')->lower()->toString() or if the input is null Str::of(null)->lower()->toString() it will change to a string
Level 122
@elvisdosreis yes, so you have to test for null first or use the snippet I showed from the middleware
$str = Str::of(null)->lower()->toString();
$str = $str === '' ? null : $str;
Level 27
@elvisdosreis Of course it will change to a string when you use Str::of($value) – that’s what Str::of() does: converts the parameter to a string(able)! You are explicitly telling it to turn it into a string.
If the input value may be null, and you want to keep null values (or indeed empty strings) as nulls, then test that before you turn it into a string:
if (empty($input)) {
$value = NULL;
} else {
$value = Str::of($input)->trim();
}
// Or as a ternary
$value = empty($input) ? NULL : Str::of($input)->trim();
Level 1
I could just add a macro.
Str::of($input)->trim()->toStringNull()
Str::macro('toStringNull', function (string $str) {
return empty($str) ? null : $str;
});
only I'm using it in a separate project in Slim, only illuminate/support is it possible for me to add the macro in this situation
Level 122
in a provider (eg AppServiceProvider) boot method, add the following;
\Illuminate\Support\Stringable::macro('nullableString', function () {
/** @var \Illuminate\Support\Stringable $this */
return $this->value === '' ? null : (string) $this->value;
});
use like
$str = '';
Str::of($str)->upper()->nullableString();
1 like
Level 1
this is precisely what I thought about making a laravel project, the problem is that I have a separate project that only uses illuminate/support
Level 27
@elvisdosreis You will have to create any macros you want to use in all the projects where you want to use them, yes.
1 like
Level 1
thanks
Level 19
Or you could PR this method to the framework to see if they will accept it.
Level 1
@cwhite if you want to suggest this implementation to the laravel team, i think it can be useful for someone
Please or to participate in this conversation.