Laravel eloquent does not update JSON column : Array to string conversion

Question

I want to update a JSON column in my database but I get this error:

Array to string conversion  

I have declared the column name as array in the model:

protected $casts = [
    'destinations' => 'array'
];

this is the code that I use:

$data[] = [
    'from' => $fromArray,
    'to' => $toArray
];

Flight::where('id', $id)->update(['destinations' => $data]);

What should I do?

Answer 1

You can access your json keys using the arrow so you can update your column like so:

Flight::where('id', $id)->update([
   'destinations->from' => $data['from'],
   'destinations->to'  => $data['to']
]);

As @fubar mentioned you have to have mysql 5.7 in order to have my solution to work.

check the docs

Answer 2

This code did the work for me.

$user = User::where('id', $request->user_id)
        ->first();

$array_data = ["json_key3"=>"value"];

$user->forceFill([
    'db_column->json_key1->json_key2' => $array_data
])->save();

Answer 3

You're getting that error because you're trying to update your model using the Query Builder, which basically just creates raw SQL queries. It isn't aware of any data casting, etc defined within your model. You therefore have three choices:

1) Find your model, and run the update on your model instance.

$flight = Flight::findOrFail($id);
$flight->update(['destinations' => $data]);

2) Convert the data to a string before updating.

$data = json_encode($data);
Flight::where('id', $id)->update(['destinations' => $data]);

3) Use a database that supports JSON column queries, per @AmrAly's suggestion. Beware of this option, as not all databases support JSON columns.

Answer 4

According to this conversation on Github: Make json attributes fillable if Model field is fillable Taylor Otwell recommande the use of save method:

$model->options = ['foo' => 'bar'];

$model->save();

So in you case you can do it like this:

$flight = Flight::find($id); 
$flight->destinations = $data; 
$flight->save();