Insert array on multiple rows

Question

I have a multiple select:

Form::select('color', array('1' => 'Red', '2' => 'Blue', '3' => 'Green', ... ), null, array('multiple'));

How can I insert these values into a table on separate rows, like this:

  id  |  user_id  |  color
----------------------------
   1  |     1     |    1
   2  |     1     |    2
   3  |     1     |    3
   4  |     1     |    4
   5  |     2     |    1
   6  |     2     |    3

In the above example, user with an id of 1 selected 4 different values in the select and each was inserted on a separate row.

I have this working in this way:

foreach (Input::get('tags') as $key => $value)
{
    $user_color = new UserColor;
    $user_color->user_id = $user->id;
    $user_color->color = $key;
    $user_color->save();
}

Is there a better way of doing this? It seems odd using a foreach loop when it feels like Laravel should have some sort of built-in method of inserting multiple values on multiple rows.

possible duplicate of [Bulk Insertion in Laravel using eloquent ORM](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/12702812/bulk-insertion-in-laravel-using-eloquent-orm) — Limon Monte, Mar 13 '15 at 21:18
The answers there are from 2012. Laravel has changed a lot since then. — user4669010, Mar 13 '15 at 21:22
Also, `insert()` does not update `created_at` or `updated_at`. — user4669010, Mar 13 '15 at 21:26
Have you tried looping first to create the array itself and then inserting the array after the loop has finished? — user1669496, Mar 13 '15 at 21:29
`Input::get('tags')` already is an array. Not sure what you mean. — user4669010, Mar 13 '15 at 21:36
If you want to have timestamps updated automatically you have to do it like you do right now. — lukasgeiter, Mar 13 '15 at 22:01
You can update your `created_at` and `updated_at` fields in your loop like so: `'created_at' => \Carbon\Carbon::now()->toDateTimeString()` — Terry McCann, Mar 14 '15 at 05:03
never use something like this : foreach (Input::get('tags') as $key => $value) { $user_color = new UserColor; $user_color->user_id = $user->id; $user_color->color = $key; $user_color->save(); } use case when in your sql instead — Alireza Rahmani Khalili, Mar 15 '15 at 08:36

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:12

As Laravel doc provided,

You may also use the sync method to attach related models. The sync method accepts an array of IDs to place on the pivot table. After this operation is complete, only the IDs in the array will be on the intermediate table for the model:

In this case,

$colors = Input::get('tags');
$user->colors()->sync($colors);

Please make sure to set relation in your User model :

public function colors()
{
    return $this->belongsToMany('Color');
}

You can also use attach method when you parameter is not array. To more clear, Here is difference between attach and sync.

Insert array on multiple rows

1 Answers1