How do I call Validator from a namespace with an already existing Validator class

Question

I'm trying to test a function in phpspec which calls Laravel's Validator::make function (http://laravel.com/docs/4.2/validation)

However, I'm trying to call that same function from a namespace where the Validator class name is already taken. How can I call that function described in the docs?

Failed solutions:

Attempt 1

return \Illuminate\Validation\Validator::make($values,$rules);

gives me

Call to undefined method Illuminate\Validation\Validator::make()

Attempt 2

return \Illuminate\Validation\Factory::make($values,$rules);

gives me

Using $this when not in object context in /vendor/laravel/framework/src/Illuminate/Validation/Factory.php on line 92. Factory

Attempt 3

use \Validator;

gives me

Cannot declare class Isoform\Validator because the name is already in use

Attempt 4

use \Validator as DefaultValidator;

gives me

Class 'DefaultValidator' not found

Whitefish

Possible hint: "Call to undefined method" means that it did find a class at that location, but it's probably not the class you're looking for. – Sylphid

@Sylphid If I have the wrong class, where is the right class? – Whitefish

You might be able to get Laravel's validator by using \Validator::make($values, $rules). – Nervine

@user3158900 that returns Class 'Validator' not found – Whitefish

In Attempt 4, where does DefaultValidator come from? What if you also add use \DefaultValidator ? – Sylphid

Fixed. Should be more obvious now. It's basically attempt 3 but I aliased it to a different class. – Whitefish

Answer 1

return \Illuminate\Support\Facades\Validator::make($values,$rules);

This will cause errors in phpspec, but that cannot be avoided. Although Validator::make looks like a static function - behind the scenes it is really returning an instance. Because I was using phpspec, that instance was not created hence the error.

Whitefish

Answer 2

Try just a single forward slash to refer to the global namespace:

return \Validator::make($values,$rules);

Sylphid

Thanks mopo, but its returning Using $this when not in object context in /vendor/laravel/framework/src/Illuminate/Validation/Factory.php on line 92. Factory has a make function but its not static – Whitefish

still nada: Class 'Validator' not found. Doing research into Facades, so thanks for the pointer. – Whitefish

That's puzzling. Are you using the "other" Validator class? If not, maybe use \Validator; at the top of your file would work? – Sylphid

That's exactly the case. My namespace has a Validator class, but I'm trying to access the one in the docs without renaming my current class. Both use \Validator and use \Validator as DefaultValidator still don't work (edited original question with why) – Whitefish

Answer 3

I solved that one. Simply delete use Validator from vendor\laravel\framework\src\Illuminate\Validation\Validator.php and then add use Validator code to your controller. Then you are ready for action.

$validator = Validator::make($request->all(), $rules);

Andonis