Accessing request data in Laravel - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ component_behavior

intermediate

What is the output of this Laravel controller method?

Consider this Laravel controller method that handles a POST request with form data. What will be returned when the form sends a field named username with value alice?

Laravel

<?php

namespace App\Http\Controllers;

use Illuminate\Http\Request;

class UserController extends Controller
{
    public function store(Request $request)
    {
        return $request->input('username', 'guest');
    }
}

A "alice"

B "guest"

C null

D An error is thrown

💡 Hint

The input method returns the value of the given key or the default if not present.

The input method fetches the value of 'username' from the request data. Since the form sends 'alice', it returns 'alice'. The default 'guest' is ignored.

📝 Syntax

intermediate

Which option correctly retrieves a query parameter named 'page' from the request?

You want to get the 'page' parameter from the URL query string in a Laravel controller. Which code snippet is correct?

A $page = $request->param('page', 1);

B $page = $request->query('page', 1);

C $page = $request->get('page', 1);

D $page = $request->input('page', 1);

💡 Hint

Use the method designed specifically for query parameters.

The query method fetches parameters specifically from the URL query string. input and get (an alias for input) fetch from all input sources (query string, form data, JSON, etc.), making query more precise here. param is not a valid method on the Request object.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Why does this code cause an error when accessing JSON request data?

This Laravel controller method tries to get a JSON field 'email' from the request body. Why does it cause an error?

Laravel

<?php

public function update(Request $request)
{
    $email = $request->email;
    return $email;
}

A The 'email' field is missing from the request body.

B The method should use $request->json('email') instead.

C The request must be cast to an array before accessing fields.

D The request object does not have dynamic properties for JSON fields.

💡 Hint

Accessing request data requires specific methods, not property access.

Laravel's Request object does not support accessing input data as properties. You must use methods like input or json to get data from the request.

❓ state_output

advanced

What is the value of $data after this code runs?

Given this Laravel controller snippet, what will be the value of $data?

Laravel

<?php

public function handle(Request $request)
{
    $data = $request->only(['name', 'age']);
    return $data;
}

A An array with all request fields

B {"name": "John"} if only 'name' is sent

C {"name": "John", "age": 30} if both fields are sent

D null

💡 Hint

The only method returns only specified keys if present.

The only method returns an array with only the specified keys if they exist in the request. If both 'name' and 'age' are sent, both appear in the array.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

Which method correctly retrieves all input data except the 'password' field?

You want to get all input data from a Laravel request except the 'password' field. Which method call achieves this?

A $request->except('password');

B $request->only('password');

C $request->input()->except('password');

D $request->all()->except('password');

💡 Hint

Use the method designed to exclude keys from input data.

The except method returns all input data except the specified keys. only returns only those keys. input() returns a value, not a collection, so chaining except fails. all() returns an array, which does not have an except method.