#Fluent validation rule builders for Laravel

Write Laravel validation rules with IDE autocompletion instead of memorizing string syntax. Each rule type exposes only the methods that apply to it: FluentRule::string() won't offer digits(), FluentRule::date() won't offer mimes(). each() and children() keep parent and child rules in one place instead of scattered across dot-notation keys. For large arrays, the HasFluentRules trait makes wildcard validation up to 160x faster.

// Before
'name'         => 'required|string|min:2|max:255',
'email'        => ['required', 'email', Rule::unique('users')->ignore($id)],
'role'         => Rule::when($isAdmin, 'required|string|in:admin,editor'),
'items'        => 'array',
'items.*.id'   => 'required|integer|exists:items,id',
'items.*.name' => 'required|string|max:255',

// After
'name'  => FluentRule::string('Full Name')->required()->min(2)->max(255),
'email' => FluentRule::email('Email')->required()->unique('users', 'email', fn ($r) => $r->ignore($id)),
'role'  => FluentRule::string()->when($isAdmin, fn ($r) => $r->required()->in(['admin', 'editor'])),
'items' => FluentRule::array()->each([
    'id'   => FluentRule::integer()->required()->exists('items', 'id'),
    'name' => FluentRule::string()->required()->max(255),
]),

Migrating an existing codebase? Jump straight to Migrating to fluent validation; a companion package automates the bulk of the rewrite.

#Installation

You can install the package via composer:

composer require sandermuller/laravel-fluent-validation

Requires PHP 8.2+ and Laravel 12+. See Installation for AI-assisted development with Laravel Boost, and UPGRADING.md when upgrading from an older release.

#Usage

Add the HasFluentRules trait to your form request:

use Illuminate\Foundation\Http\FormRequest;
use SanderMuller\FluentValidation\FluentRule;
use SanderMuller\FluentValidation\HasFluentRules;

class StorePostRequest extends FormRequest
{
    use HasFluentRules;

    public function rules(): array
    {
        return [
            'title'    => FluentRule::string('Title')->required()->min(2)->max(255),
            'email'    => FluentRule::email('Email')->required()->unique('users'),
            'date'     => FluentRule::date('Publish Date')->required()->afterToday(),
            'avatar'   => FluentRule::image()->nullable()->max('2mb'),
            'tags'     => FluentRule::array(label: 'Tags')->required()->each(
                              FluentRule::string()->max(50)
                          ),
            'password' => FluentRule::password()->required()->mixedCase()->numbers(),
        ];
    }
}

The label 'Title' replaces :attribute in error messages. You get "The Title field is required" instead of "The title field is required", without a separate attributes() array.

See Basic usage for the schema() builder, typing your rules() return, and using fluent rules outside form requests.

#Documentation

Read the full documentation at sandermuller.github.io/laravel-fluent-validation.

Getting started

• Why this package?: DX, type safety, structure, performance, and how it compares to Laravel's Rule class
• Installation
• Getting started: one form request, three rules, a validated payload
• Basic usage: form requests, typing rules(), the schema() builder, other contexts
• Error messages: labels, per-rule messages
• Array validation: each(), children(), nesting

Digging deeper

• Extending parent rules: child form requests, modifyEach, modifyChildren, returning a RuleSet
• Livewire: HasFluentValidation trait, Filament workaround
• Performance: O(n) wildcards, pre-evaluation, fast-check closures, batched DB
• Benchmarks: the measured numbers and the rule sets behind them
• RuleSet: build, compose, inspect, escape hatches, method reference
• Validating with a RuleSet: validate(), check(), unknown fields, error bags
• Testing: FluentRulesTester, Pest expectations
• Rule reference: all types, modifiers, conditionals, macros

Migration and tooling

• Migrating to fluent validation: incremental migration and the automated Rector companion
• Static analysis with PHPStan: opt-in PHPStan rules package that flags unbounded each() chains
• Troubleshooting: common issues and solutions

#Contributing

Please see CONTRIBUTING for details.

#Changelog

Please see CHANGELOG for more information on what has changed recently.

#Security vulnerabilities

Please review our security policy on how to report security vulnerabilities.

#Credits

• Sander Muller
• All Contributors

#License

MIT License. Please see License File for more information.