Laravel collection converts array to object

Question

If I run $collection->filter(myFilter), Laravel does this annoying thing of adding keys to each model in the collection like so:

{
    "4": {
        "myObject": "data"
    },
    "7": {
        "myObject": "data"
    }
}

How can I get rid of the "4" and "7" so it's an array of my objects?

My code that runs is:

$obj = Cars::with('brand')->orderBy('id')->get();

return $obj->filter(function($value, $key)
{
    return $value->display == true;
});

Blanchette

I feel like flatten() might do what you're after, but you're going to need to provider some more example code to see how you're getting this output. – Eanore

Yeah, flatten() should do the trick – Selfaddressed

@Eanore added code in - flatten worked. Feel free to add an answer for me to accept. – Blanchette

@Blanchette While flatten() happens to work in this case, values() is the appropriate method to use. I have added an answer with an explanation. – Plassey

Answer 1

The issue is that the filter() method does not rekey the underlying collection array. So, the Collection is still representing an array, it is just that your array looks like this:

[
    4 => Object4,
    7 => Object7,
]

While this is a perfectly valid array in PHP, this is not a proper array in JSON. Since this cannot be represented as an array in JSON, it is converted to an object in JSON.

In order to get this properly represented as an array in JSON, you just need to rekey the Collection array. The proper method for this is the values() method. All it does is call array_values on the underlying array. This will turn the above array in this:

[
    0 => Object4,
    1 => Object7,
]

Now, this is a proper numerically indexed array that JSON can understand and will treat as an array instead of an object.

While flatten may work for this particular case (your Collection is a collection of Eloquent Models), it is not actually the correct method, and may lead to unintended consequences. Additionally, it will perform a lot of extra logic that is not needed. Your best bet is to use the proper method for what you are trying to achieve, and that is the values() method.

$obj = Cars::with('brand')->orderBy('id')->get();

return $obj->filter(function($value, $key)
    {
        return $value->display == true;
    })
    ->values();

Plassey

Ah yeah, @Plassey is right - values is the correct method to use here, and as mentioned it should be more performant. Totally forgot about that method, good to be reminded. This should be the accepted answer. – Eanore

@patricusMaybe you can help me. Look at this : #51489123 – Impacted

Answer 2

Calling flatten() on your collection should remove the keys and merge all their values up into a single collection.

Eanore