JSON defualt value

[hafezd]

• Laravel Version: 5.3.19
• PHP Version: 7.0.8
• Database Driver & Version: Mysql 5.7.15

Description:

I have documents table with parameters JSON column and a model like this:

class Document extends Model {

    /**
     * The attributes that should be casted to native types.
     *
     * @var array
     */
    protected $casts = [
        'parameters' => 'array',
    ];

}

JSON columns cannot have a default value in Mysql and no update will happen if the value of the column is NULL or empty, so according to this suggestion, I use stdClass when create.

But It doesn't make sense to set JSON column to stdClasss on every single insertion and there should be a way to give it a default value of empty object {}.

I tried to use this mutator to set default value when empty but no chance:

    /**
     * Set the parameters.
     *
     * @param  string  $value
     * @return string
     */
    public function setParametersAttribute($value)
    {
        $this->attributes['parameters'] = empty($value) ? new stdClass() : $this->asJson($value);
    }


SQLSTATE[HY000]: General error: 1364 Field 'parameters' doesn't have a default value

I think Eloquent Model should set an empty object for JSON column types during creation.

Steps To Reproduce:

1. JSON column doesn't accept default value.
2. Updating null JSON column is not possible.

[themsaid]

This is a MySQL thing :) I guess there are many inconsistencies in the JSON type column, like the integer/float comparison that is type strict unlike the rest of the MySQL fields.

However if you have any suggested approaches to deal with the matter please feel free to open a PR.

[arctic-ice-cool]

The workaround I'm going to use (reluctantly) is to add this to the Model with the JSON field:

protected $attributes = array(
        'json' => '{}'
    );

The downside to this is that this won't affect existing Model records already created and saved in the DB - so an additional query needs to be run as part of a migration or seed to fix this and update existing records.

#15433 - arctic-ice-cool commented

[ctrlaltdylan]

Oh the joy of little hacks. Here's a simple accessor that solved the issue for me (like @hafezdivandari I too have a parameters attribute on my model):

    /**
     * Accessor for the options attribute.
     * Defaults to an empty array.
     */
    public function getParametersAttribute($value)  
    {
        if (empty($value)) {
            return [];
        }

        return json_decode($value, TRUE);
    }


    /**
      * Set that jawn on the way out
      */
    public function setParametersAttribute($value) {
        $this->attributes['parameters'] = json_encode($value);
    }

[dimer22zhc]

u can just do
protected $casts = ['json']; in your modal