Exploring Laravel Collections: A Simple Guide

Laravel collections are one of the most powerful tools in the framework. They extend the Illuminate\Support\Collection class and provide a smooth interface to manipulate arrays and objects in an expressive way. Creating Collections You can create a collection from an array using the collect() method: $collection = collect([1, 2, 3, 4, 5]); Key Collection Methods Below, we'll dive into some of the most useful and powerful methods. map() - Transforming Values The map() method lets you apply a function to each item in the collection. $doubled = collect([1, 2, 3])->map(fn($num) => $num * 2); // [2, 4, 6] filter() - Filtering Values Filters the collection items based on a condition. $evenNumbers = collect([1, 2, 3, 4, 5])->filter(fn($num) => $num % 2 === 0); // [2, 4] reduce() - Reducing to a Single value Useful for collapsing the collection into a single accumulated value. $sum = collect([1, 2, 3, 4])->reduce(fn($carry, $num) => $carry + $num, 0); // 10 pluck() - Extracting Values from a Field The pluck() method allows you to extract values from a specific key in a collection of arrays or objects. $users = collect([ ['name' => 'Alice', 'age' => 28], ['name' => 'Bob', 'age' => 34], ]); $names = $users->pluck('name'); // ['Alice', 'Bob'] groupBy() - Grouping Data The groupBy() method allows you to group collection items based on a given key or callback function. $users = collect([ ['name' => 'Alice', 'group' => 'A'], ['name' => 'Bob', 'group' => 'B'], ['name' => 'Charlie', 'group' => 'A'] ]); $groups = $users->groupBy('group'); // Group A: Alice, Charlie // Group B: Bob chunk() - Splitting the Collection into Smaller Pieces The chunk() method breaks the collection into multiple smaller collections of a given size. $collection = collect([1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]); $chunks = $collection->chunk(3); // [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6], [7, 8]] each() - Iterating Over the Collection The each() method allows you to loop through each item in the collection and perform an action on it. collect([1, 2, 3])->each(fn($num) => print($num)); // 1 2 3 contains() - Checking if a value exists The contains() method checks if a given item is present in the collection. $exists = collect([1, 2, 3])->contains(2); pipe() - Passing the collection to a function The pipe() method allows you to pass the entire collection into a function and return the result. $result = collect([1, 2, 3])->pipe(function ($collection) { return $collection->sum(); }); // 6 has() - Checking if a key exists The has() method determines if a given key exists in the collection. $collection = collect(['name' => 'Alice', 'age' => 28]); $exists = $collection->has('age'); // true dot() - Converting a Multi-Dimensional Array to Dot Notation The dot() method transforms nested arrays into a flat array using dot notation. $collection = collect(['user' => ['name' => 'Alice', 'email' => 'alice@example.com']]); $dot = $collection->dot(); // ['user.name' => 'Alice', 'user.email' => 'alice@example.com'] isEmpty() - Checking if the collection is empty The isEmpty() method returns true if the collection has no items. $empty = collect([])->isEmpty(); // true Conclusion Laravel Collections make array manipulation way more intuitive and expressive. If you want to write cleaner and more elegant code, mastering them is a must!

Mar 14, 2025 - 15:23

Exploring Laravel Collections: A Simple Guide

Laravel collections are one of the most powerful tools in the framework. They extend the Illuminate\Support\Collection class and provide a smooth interface to manipulate arrays and objects in an expressive way.

Creating Collections

You can create a collection from an array using the collect() method:

$collection = collect([1, 2, 3, 4, 5]);

Key Collection Methods

Below, we'll dive into some of the most useful and powerful methods.

`map()` - Transforming Values

The map() method lets you apply a function to each item in the collection.

$doubled = collect([1, 2, 3])->map(fn($num) => $num * 2);
// [2, 4, 6]

`filter()` - Filtering Values

Filters the collection items based on a condition.

$evenNumbers = collect([1, 2, 3, 4, 5])->filter(fn($num) => $num % 2 === 0);
// [2, 4]

`reduce()` - Reducing to a Single value

Useful for collapsing the collection into a single accumulated value.

$sum = collect([1, 2, 3, 4])->reduce(fn($carry, $num) => $carry + $num, 0);
// 10

`pluck()` - Extracting Values from a Field

The pluck() method allows you to extract values from a specific key in a collection of arrays or objects.

$users = collect([
    ['name' => 'Alice', 'age' => 28],
    ['name' => 'Bob', 'age' => 34],
]);

$names = $users->pluck('name');
// ['Alice', 'Bob']

`groupBy()` - Grouping Data

The groupBy() method allows you to group collection items based on a given key or callback function.

$users = collect([
    ['name' => 'Alice', 'group' => 'A'],
    ['name' => 'Bob', 'group' => 'B'],
    ['name' => 'Charlie', 'group' => 'A']
]);

$groups = $users->groupBy('group');
// Group A: Alice, Charlie
// Group B: Bob

`chunk()` - Splitting the Collection into Smaller Pieces

The chunk() method breaks the collection into multiple smaller collections of a given size.

$collection = collect([1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]);
$chunks = $collection->chunk(3);

// [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6], [7, 8]]

`each()` - Iterating Over the Collection

The each() method allows you to loop through each item in the collection and perform an action on it.

collect([1, 2, 3])->each(fn($num) => print($num));
// 1 2 3

`contains()` - Checking if a value exists

The contains() method checks if a given item is present in the collection.

$exists = collect([1, 2, 3])->contains(2);

`pipe()` - Passing the collection to a function

The pipe() method allows you to pass the entire collection into a function and return the result.

$result = collect([1, 2, 3])->pipe(function ($collection) {
    return $collection->sum();
});
// 6

`has()` - Checking if a key exists

The has() method determines if a given key exists in the collection.

$collection = collect(['name' => 'Alice', 'age' => 28]);
$exists = $collection->has('age');
// true

`dot()` - Converting a Multi-Dimensional Array to Dot Notation

The dot() method transforms nested arrays into a flat array using dot notation.

$collection = collect(['user' => ['name' => 'Alice', 'email' => 'alice@example.com']]);
$dot = $collection->dot();
// ['user.name' => 'Alice', 'user.email' => 'alice@example.com']

`isEmpty()` - Checking if the collection is empty

The isEmpty() method returns true if the collection has no items.

$empty = collect([])->isEmpty();
// true

Conclusion

Laravel Collections make array manipulation way more intuitive and expressive. If you want to write cleaner and more elegant code, mastering them is a must!