How do I run seeders in Laravel? (php artisan db:seed)
Jun 12, 2025 pm 06:01 PMThe php artisan db:seed command in Laravel is used to populate the database with test or default data. 1. It executes the run() method in seeder classes located in /database/seeders. 2. Developers can run all seeders, a specific seeder using --class, or truncate tables before seeding with --truncate. 3. Seeder logic can be written manually or via model factories, and dependencies must be ordered correctly. 4. Common issues include namespace errors, ordering problems, autoloading failures, and schema mismatches. 5. The command does not modify tables unless --truncate is used, and it is often paired with migrations using migrate:fresh --seed.
Running seeders in Laravel is a straightforward process, and the php artisan db:seed
command is your go-to tool for getting test or default data into your database. This is super handy during development when you want to simulate real-world scenarios without manually entering data every time.
Here’s how it works and what you need to know.
What the php artisan db:seed
Command Does
When you run this command, Laravel executes the run()
method inside your seeder classes — typically found in the /database/seeders
directory. By default, Laravel comes with a DatabaseSeeder
class that acts as a central point to call other seeders.
It's commonly used to:
- Insert sample data for testing
- Set up default rows like admin users or categories
- Prepare a fresh database state for new developers or environments
How to Use db:seed
in Practice
You don't always just type php artisan db:seed
and walk away — sometimes you need to be more specific.
Here are common ways to use it:
-
Run all seeders:
php artisan db:seed
Run a specific seeder class:
php artisan db:seed --class=UsersTableSeeder
Truncate tables before seeding (good for clean data):
php artisan db:seed --truncate
If you're setting up a brand new environment, it's common to combine migrations and seeding:
php artisan migrate:fresh --seed
This drops all tables, runs migrations again, then seeds the database.
Where to Put Your Seeder Logic
Laravel uses model factories by default now (since version 8 ), but you can still write manual inserts if you prefer.
Let’s say you want to seed some users:
In your DatabaseSeeder.php
, you might do something like:
public function run() { \App\Models\User::factory(10)->create(); }
Or if you're not using factories, you can manually insert:
DB::table('users')->insert([ 'name' => 'Admin User', 'email' => 'admin@example.com', 'password' => bcrypt('password'), ]);
You can also call other seeder classes from here:
$this->call([ UsersTableSeeder::class, PostsTableSeeder::class, ]);
Make sure each custom seeder class lives in its own file under /database/seeders
.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
There are a few gotchas people often miss:
Class not found errors – Make sure your custom seeder is referenced correctly with the full namespace.
Order matters – If one table depends on another (like posts needing user IDs), seed users first.
Autoloading issues – After creating a new seeder class, run
composer dump-autoload
just in case.Using outdated factories – If you’re using model factories, make sure they match your current database schema.
Also, keep in mind that db:seed
doesn’t drop or modify tables unless you use --truncate
. So if you're adding new seed data, old entries will stay unless you clear them.
That’s basically it. The php artisan db:seed
command isn’t complicated, but knowing when and how to use it makes managing your dev data much easier.
The above is the detailed content of How do I run seeders in Laravel? (php artisan db:seed). For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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