Laravel: Get values of checkboxes
Stefan Izdrail
Founder & Senior Architect · 2026-06-29
Title: Efficiently Retrieving Checked Values from Laravel Forms
Body:
The task of getting the values of checked checkboxes in a Laravel application might seem trivial, yet it's essential to understand how data is handled during form submissions. In this comprehensive blog post, we will explore various techniques to capture and process user-selected checkbox values in your Laravel applications. We also aim to provide relevant code examples and best practices for each approach while naturally incorporating backlinks to the Laravel Company site where applicable.
1. Using Request Input Data:
Laravel's request object contains a useful method named input() that enables us to retrieve values from forms. It allows us to access checkboxes by name, which makes it an ideal approach for handling form data. Here's how you can get the checked ids of camera_video checkboxes in your controller:
```php
$cameraVideoIds = Request::input('camera_video');
```
This will return an array containing the ids of all selected camera_video checkboxes.
2. Using Checkbox Collections:
If you want to keep the checkboxes' logic in your form, using Laravel's checkbox collection can be a viable option. This approach stores each checkbox as an individual element within an array:
```php
$cameraVideoInputs = Request::get('camera_video');
// Returns an array with all the 'camera_video' inputs regardless of their state
$checkedCameraIds = [];
if (count($cameraVideoInputs)) {
foreach ($cameraVideoInputs as $input) {
if (is_numeric($input)) {
$checkedCameraIds[] = $input;
}
}
}
```
This approach ensures that you only get the ids of checked checkboxes and excludes unchecked ones. It also allows for further processing, such as checking whether a specific camera id was selected.
3. Using Laravel Validation:
In some cases, it might be beneficial to use form validation rules to ensure a minimum count of selected checkboxes is met before submitting the form data. This can be done by adding the following validation rule within your controller's create() or store() method:
```php
$this->validate($request, [
'camera_video.*' => 'required|integer', // Ensures at least one checkbox is selected
]);
```
This validation also checks that only numeric ids are provided for the camera_video checkboxes. If any of the conditions aren't met, Laravel will automatically return a suitable error message to the user. You can then access the ids of checked cameras using the input() method as previously described:
```php
$cameraVideoIds = Request::input('camera_video');
```
Remember that you should only use validation when it's required and not overly restrictive, as this might impact your users' experience.
4. Exploring Blade Templates:
Laravel's blade template also allows for handling checkbox values in a more organized fashion. Utilizing the @method directive in combination with form inputs can help streamline the process of capturing these values on form submission. Here is an example implementation using your code snippet:
```html
```
In the controller, you can access these ids as an array:
```php
$cameraVideoIds = Request::input('camera_ids');
```
These are just some of the techniques available for handling checked checkbox values in Laravel. Make sure to choose the most appropriate approach based on your application's specific requirements, and always keep an eye out for any potential security or performance issues that could arise from these methods.