Replace Magic Strings with PHP 8 Backed Enums in Eloquent Models

Use PHP 8 Backed Enums to eliminate magic strings in database columns, query scopes, and form validation rules.

Hardcoding status strings like $order->status === 'pending' or User::where('role', 'admin') across multiple controllers makes refactoring difficult and introduces silent typo bugs that static analysis tools cannot catch.

PHP 8 Backed Enums provide type safety and IDE autocomplete.

Defining a Backed Enum

namespace App\Enums;

enum OrderStatus: string
{
    case PENDING    = 'pending';
    case PROCESSING = 'processing';
    case COMPLETED  = 'completed';
    case CANCELLED  = 'cancelled';

    public function label(): string
    {
        return match ($this) {
            self::PENDING    => 'Order Pending',
            self::PROCESSING => 'In Processing',
            self::COMPLETED  => 'Order Completed',
            self::CANCELLED  => 'Cancelled',
        };
    }
}

Casting in Eloquent Models

namespace AppModels;

use App\Enums\OrderStatus;
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;

class Order extends Model
{
    protected function casts(): array
    {
        return [
            'status' => OrderStatus::class,
        ];
    }
}

Type-Safe Querying and Comparison

use App\Enums\OrderStatus;

// Type-safe query: No magic strings
$orders = Order::where('status', OrderStatus::PENDING)->get();

// Natural enum comparison
if ($order->status === OrderStatus::COMPLETED) {
    // Process fulfillment
}

Summary

Prevents typos and catches invalid status assignments during compilation.
Provides native casting with Eloquent models via casts().
Bundles domain display labels and helper methods directly inside Enum classes.

edit this tip

Tags: Laravel Enums PHP 8.1+ Clean Code

Share on X

Defining a Backed Enum

Casting in Eloquent Models

Type-Safe Querying and Comparison

Summary

Related Tips

Refresh and Lock an Existing Eloquent Model with refreshForUpdate()

Scope Pivot Table Queries with Closures in wherePivot() in Laravel 13.26