Best way to store and load JSON from database in Laravel
Stefan Izdrail
Founder & Senior Architect · 2026-06-29
Storing JSON data in a database presents unique challenges compared to storing other types of data, such as text or numbers. The goal is for the stored data to be both human-readable and machine-readable. This requires careful consideration when deciding how to encode and store your JSON data within the database. In this blog post, we will discuss various methods and approaches to successfully handle storing, loading, and rendering JSON data in Laravel.
1. Best approach: Store JSON as a string inside a text column.
This is the most straightforward method. You only need to create an additional column in your database table to store the raw JSON data. For example, you can call it "json_data" and store it using PHP's `json_encode()` function:
```php
$paste = new Paste();
$paste->uuid = Str::uuid()->toString();
$paste->data = json_encode(Request::get('data', '')); // Use your input data
$paste->save();
```
Load the JSON data whenever needed by decoding the string:
```php
public function show($uuid) {
$paste = Paste::where('uuid',$uuid)->first();
return response()->json(json_decode($paste->data));
}
```
2. Storing as an array and converting to JSON later:
This involves storing each individual object element in separate columns within the database table, which is a common practice if you expect to work with a large number of objects. When loading this data back, you can convert it into a single JSON array using PHP's `json_encode()` function as above:
```php
public function show($uuid) {
$paste = Paste::where('uuid',$uuid)->first();
return response()->json(json_encode([
'name' => $paste->name,
'age' => $paste->age,
// ... other data
]));
}
```
3. Using a JSON column type:
MySQL introduced the JSON datatype in version 5.7. This can be used for storing and retrieving the JSON as it is without any encoding or decoding steps:
```php
public function show($uuid) {
$paste = Paste::where('uuid',$uuid)->first();
return response()->json($paste->toJson());
}
```
4. Using JSONB datatype in PostgreSQL:
This is similar to the previous method but for PostgreSQL and offers additional features such as indexing and querying within the JSON structure:
```php
public function show($uuid) {
$paste = Paste::where('uuid',$uuid)->first();
return response()->json($paste->json_encode());
}
```
5. Manipulating the data for better rendering:
In some cases, you might have issues with your JSON-encoded data being rendered as plain text (as in your example). To resolve this, you can manipulate the data before storing it or when loading it back to ensure proper rendering:
```php
public function show($uuid) {
$paste = Paste::where('uuid',$uuid)->first();
return response()->json(json_encode(stripslashes($paste->data), JSON_UNESCAPED_SLASHES));
}
// or in the view
{{ json_encode($paste->data, JSON_UNESCAPED_SLASHES) }}
```
6. Optimize data storage and rendering:
If you find yourself repeating the same format of objects within your JSON structure (e.g., always having an 'age' property), consider storing just the unique elements using a column named "json_data" as mentioned in the beginning, but store the common properties separate from it:
```php
public function show($uuid) {
$paste = Paste::where('uuid',$uuid)->first();
return response()->json(array_merge([
'name' => $paste->name,
'age' => $paste->age,
// ... other data
], json_decode($paste->json_data)));
}
```
These methods offer a range of solutions to handle storing and loading JSON data in Laravel. They demonstrate the importance of choosing the right approach for your specific requirements. Always ensure you test thoroughly before deciding on a method, as some may be more suitable or perform better than others depending on your use case.