Hydrators in Laravel 5

There are 2 sets of class, depending on what your targeting.

Models:

Use: fill(array $attributes) or forceFill(array $attributes)

"Fill the model with an array of attributes." / "Force mass assignment"

$data = ['id' => 1, 'comment' => 'My comment'];
...
$model = new Comment;
$model->fill($data);

Collections:

Use: hydrate(array $items, string|null $connection = null) / hydrateRaw(string $query, array $bindings = array(), string|null $connection = null)

I haven't use this one yet so not really sure on it's use.

*taken from http://laravel.com/api/5.0/Illuminate/Database/Eloquent/Model.html#method_fill

You can use eloquent attribute casting. http://laravel.com/docs/5.0/eloquent#attribute-casting

Great!

In your entities, do you normally create getters/setters?

You can use method hydrate:

https://laravel.com/api/5.8/Illuminate/Database/Eloquent/Builder.html#method_hydrate

$result = DB::select("SELECT * FROM mytable...");
$collection = MyModel::hydrate($result->toArray());

or use fromQuery method:

$collection = MyModel::fromQuery("SELECT * FROM mytable...");