Use sequence() and state methods on Eloquent Factories to alternate attributes and configure complex test fixtures predictably.
When seeding test databases or generating batches of models (such as creating users with alternating roles or varying subscription tiers), writing manual loops with modulo checks is unnecessary.
Laravel factories provide the sequence() method to cycle through attribute sets.
Alternating Values with sequence()
use App\Models\User;
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Factories\Sequence;
// Creates 10 users alternating between 'admin' and 'user' roles
$users = User::factory()
->count(10)
->sequence(
['role' => 'admin'],
['role' => 'user'],
)
->create();Using Closures in Sequence
$users = User::factory()
->count(5)
->sequence(fn (Sequence $sequence) => [
'email' => "user_{$sequence->index}@example.com",
'sort_order' => $sequence->index + 1,
])
->create();Dedicated State Methods in Factories
Define expressive state methods on your Factory class:
namespace Database\Factories;
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Factories\Factory;
class OrderFactory extends Factory
{
public function completed(): static
{
return $this->state(fn (array $attributes) => [
'status' => 'completed',
'completed_at' => now(),
]);
}
}
// In tests:
$completedOrder = Order::factory()->completed()->create();Summary
- Cycles sequentially through arrays of attributes for generated models.
$sequence->indexprovides zero-indexed iteration counts.- Factory state methods provide readable, reusable test scenario fixtures.
Related Tips
View all tips →Define Clean Model Variations with Factory State Methods
Define expressive state modifier methods on Eloquent Factories to generate realistic model variations in test suites.
Reuse Model Instances Across Nested Factories with Factory recycle()
Use Factory::recycle() to pass existing parent models to child factories, avoiding duplicate database record creation in test fixtures.