Query builder not inserting timestamps
Stefan Bogdanescu
Founder & Senior Architect · 2026-06-29
Title: Query Builder Not Inserting Timestamps: A Comprehensive Guide for Laravel Developers
Body:
Introduction:
In this comprehensive blog post, we aim to address a common issue that Laravel developers face when using Query builder to insert data into the database. The problem arises when your code seems to be successfully inserting all fields except for timestamps like created_at and updated_at, which appear as default values of '0:0:0'. We'll provide a thorough answer from a developer's perspective, including relevant code examples, best practices, and naturally incorporating backlinks to https://laravelcompany.com in the content.
Body:
1. Ensuring Timestamps Are Marked As Fillable:
Before inserting data through the Query builder, ensure that your model has defined its timestamps as 'fillable'. To do this, add created_at and updated_at to the $fillable array within your Model class:
protected $fillable = array('created_at', 'updated_at');
This ensures that the Laravel framework knows these fields are specifically inserted by our code and not automatically generated.
2. Using the TimestampsTrait in Your Model:
If you haven't already, add use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB; at the top of your model file and include use Illuminate\Foundation\Auth\Access\AuthorizesRequests; to allow for authorization checks. Then, within the same class, implement the TimestampsTrait by writing:
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\SoftDeletes;
use Illuminate\Foundation\Auth\Access\AuthorizesRequests;
class Widget extends Model with SoftDeletes, AuthorizesRequests {
// Other model code and methods go here...
}
This trait provides the needed functions for automatically handling timestamps.
3. Using Eloquent Models:
An alternative method to using Query builder is by working directly with Eloquent models. This approach ensures that Laravel's database relations are correctly applied, and it makes it easier to work with the model object after insertion. In your case, you can replace the existing code with this:
$widget = new Widget();
$widget->creator = Auth::user()->id;
$widget->widget_name = $request->input('widget_name');
$widget->pages = json_encode($request->input('pages'));
$widget->domain = $request->input('domain');
$widget->settings = $settings;
$widget->save();
4. Handling Timestamps Manually:
If for some reason you need to handle timestamps manually, you can use the Unix timestamp format 'Y-m-d H:i:s' or 'Y-m-d'. For example:
$widget->created_at = date('Y-m-d H:i:s');
Remember to update both created_at and updated_at timestamps when performing updates later.
5. Conclusion:
We hope this comprehensive guide has helped you understand the common issue where timestamps are not inserted in your Query builder code. By following these tips, you can ensure that your database data remains accurate and organized, making it easier for future tasks like troubleshooting or analyzing. Remember to keep practicing and learning more about Laravel's built-in features, such as the TimestampsTrait, to become a better developer!
For further information on Laravel and its best practices, don't forget to visit https://laravelcompany.com/blog for insightful articles, tutorials, and resources.