In Laravel, validation rules can be effectively managed using form requests or validator classes. To handle validation cleanly, use form requests by running php artisan make:request, defining rules in the rules() method, and conditionally applying rules based on input values. Alternatively, for quick validations, utilize the Validator facade directly in controllers with Validator::make() and handle failures via redirects. For reusable rules across forms, create custom rule objects using php artisan make:rule, define validation logic in the passes() method, and return custom messages via the message() method, ensuring consistent and DRY validation practices throughout the application.
In Laravel, defining validation rules is straightforward and flexible, whether you're handling form requests or using validator classes directly. The key is knowing where to place your rules and how to structure them for clarity and reusability.
Using Form Requests for Validation
One of the cleanest ways to handle validation in Laravel is by using form requests — these are custom request classes that encapsulate all the validation logic for a specific form or API endpoint.
To create one:
- Run
php artisan make:request StorePostRequest - Open the generated file under
app/Http/Requests - Define your rules inside the
rules()method
Example:
public function rules()
{
return [
'title' => 'required|string|max:255',
'content' => 'required',
];
}You can also conditionally add rules based on other input values, like this:
'publish_date' => $this->input('is_scheduled') ? 'required|date' : 'nullable'Just type-hint the form request in your controller method and Laravel will automatically validate before reaching your logic.
Inline Validation with Validator Facade
If you don’t need a full form request (like in quick APIs or small forms), use the Validator facade directly in your controller.
Here’s a basic example:
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Validator;
$validator = Validator::make($request->all(), [
'email' => 'required|email',
'password' => 'required|min:8',
]);
if ($validator->fails()) {
return redirect()->back()->withErrors($validator)->withInput();
}This gives you more control but doesn't scale as well across multiple endpoints. It's best used for simple or one-off validations.
Also useful:
- You can define custom error messages separately
- Use
dd($validator->validate())during testing to see what passes/fails - Combine with
$request->validate()for even shorter syntax
Reusing Rules Across Multiple Forms
Sometimes you’ll find yourself repeating the same rules for fields like emails, passwords, or phone numbers. To avoid duplication:
- Create reusable rule objects with
make:rule - Or extract common rules into a config file or trait
For example, creating a password rule:
php artisan make:rule PasswordRule
Then define it:
class StrongPassword
{
public function passes($attribute, $value)
{
return preg_match('/[a-z]/', $value) &&
preg_match('/[A-Z]/', $value) &&
preg_match('/[0-9]/', $value);
}
public function message()
{
return 'The password must contain at least one uppercase, lowercase, and number.';
}
}Now you can reuse this rule anywhere by adding:
'password' => ['required', new StrongPassword]
This keeps your validation logic DRY and makes it easier to enforce consistent standards across different parts of your app.
That's basically it — no magic, just smart structuring.
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