Laravel 12 New Features with Sample Code

Model casts now allow you to specify default values directly inside the cast array.

    
    class User extends Model
    {
        protected $casts = [
            'is_active' => 'boolean',
        ];

        protected $attributes = [
            'is_active' => true, // Set default separately
        ];
    }
    

    
    class User extends Model
    {
        protected $casts = [
            'is_active' => 'boolean:default(true)',
        ];
    }
    

Now auto-detects the model using route model binding.

    
    class PostController extends Controller
        {
            public function __construct()
            {
                $this->authorizeResource(Post::class, 'post');
            }
        }
    

    
    class PostController extends Controller
    {
        public function __construct()
        {
            $this->authorizeResource();
        }
    }
    

(It figures out you are using Post model from the controller name!)

A new method to atomically insert or update data.

    
    User::updateOrInsert(
        ['email' => 'example@example.com'],
        ['name' => 'Updated Name']
    );
    

    
    User::upsertOrInsert(
        ['email' => 'example@example.com'],
        ['name' => 'Updated Name']
    );
    

(Clearer intention, internally optimized)

Shorter and cleaner syntax for form attributes.

    
    <input type="checkbox" name="active" {{ old('active', false) ? 'checked' : '' }}>
    

    
    <input type="checkbox" name="active" @checked(old('active', false))>
    <input type="text" name="name" @readonly($user->is_guest)>
    <input type="submit" value="Save" @disabled(!$user->can_edit)>
    

(Super clean and readable!)

Adds a condition only when the value is not empty.

    
    $query = User::query();
    if (!empty($request->email)) {
        $query->where('email', $request->email);
    }
    

    
    $query = User::query()
        ->whenFilled('email', $request->email);
    

Laravel 12 detects unique keys automatically during upsert().

    
    User::upsert([
        ['email' => 'one@example.com', 'name' => 'One'],
        ['email' => 'two@example.com', 'name' => 'Two'],
    ], ['email']); // You must mention 'email' key manually
    

    
    User::upsert([
        ['email' => 'one@example.com', 'name' => 'One'],
        ['email' => 'two@example.com', 'name' => 'Two'],
    ]);
    

(If your table already has a unique index on email, Laravel knows to use it!)

Efficiently load large datasets in reverse order.

    
    User::lazyByIdDesc()->each(function ($user) {
        // Process each user
    });
    

Use MissingValue to skip null fields in API resources.

    
    use Illuminate\Http\Resources\MissingValue;
        public function toArray($request)
        {
            return [
                'name' => $this->name,
                'profile_photo' => $this->profile_photo ?? new MissingValue(),
            ];
        }