Schema builder (columns, types) in Laravel - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is the purpose of Laravel's Schema Builder?

Laravel's Schema Builder helps you create and modify database tables using PHP code instead of writing raw SQL. It makes managing database structure easier and more readable.

beginner

How do you add a string column named 'title' to a table using Laravel's Schema Builder?

Use the method $table->string('title'); inside the Schema::create or Schema::table callback to add a string column called 'title'.

beginner

Name three common column types you can define with Laravel's Schema Builder.

Common column types include:

• string for short text
• integer for whole numbers
• boolean for true/false values

intermediate

What method would you use to add a nullable column in Laravel's Schema Builder?

You chain the nullable() method to the column definition, like $table->string('description')->nullable(); to allow the column to hold NULL values.

beginner

How do you create an auto-incrementing primary key column in Laravel's Schema Builder?

Use $table->id(); which creates an unsigned big integer column named 'id' that auto-increments and is the primary key.

Which method adds a date and time column in Laravel's Schema Builder?

A $table->boolean('created_at');

B $table->string('created_at');

C $table->integer('created_at');

D $table->dateTime('created_at');

The dateTime method adds a column that stores date and time values.

How do you make a column optional (can be NULL) in Laravel's Schema Builder?

A Add <code>->optional()</code> after the column type

B Add <code>->nullable()</code> after the column type

C Add <code>->default(NULL)</code> after the column type

D Add <code>->null()</code> after the column type

The nullable() method allows the column to accept NULL values.

What does $table->timestamps(); do in a migration?

A Adds 'created_at' and 'updated_at' timestamp columns

B Adds a single timestamp column named 'timestamps'

C Adds a boolean column named 'timestamps'

D Adds an integer column named 'timestamps'

The timestamps() method adds two columns: created_at and updated_at.

Which column type is best for storing true/false values?

A boolean

B text

C integer

D string

The boolean type stores true or false values efficiently.

How do you drop a column named 'age' using Schema Builder?

A $table->deleteColumn('age');

B $table->remove('age');

C $table->dropColumn('age');

D $table->drop('age');

The correct method to remove a column is dropColumn().

Explain how to add different column types using Laravel's Schema Builder and give examples.

Think about methods like string(), integer(), boolean(), nullable(), and id().

Describe how Laravel's Schema Builder helps manage database tables compared to writing raw SQL.

Focus on benefits of using Schema Builder for beginners and teams.