356
votes

I can't figure out how to add a new column to my existing database table using the Laravel framework.

I tried to edit the migration file using...

<?php

public function up()
{
    Schema::create('users', function ($table) {
        $table->integer("paid");
    });
}

In terminal, I execute php artisan migrate:install and migrate.

How do I add new columns?

14
It would be useful if you could include any errors you're getting; what do you expect to happen; and what actually happens?Phill Sparks
Great question. There is a lot of migration documentation out there, and it shows you the API and how to create tables the FIRST TIME. Then it all fails as you develop your app more and need to modify your db structure.Andrew Koper

14 Answers

788
votes

To create a migration, you may use the migrate:make command on the Artisan CLI. Use a specific name to avoid clashing with existing models

for Laravel 3:

php artisan migrate:make add_paid_to_users

for Laravel 5+:

php artisan make:migration add_paid_to_users_table --table=users

You then need to use the Schema::table() method (as you're accessing an existing table, not creating a new one). And you can add a column like this:

public function up()
{
    Schema::table('users', function($table) {
        $table->integer('paid');
    });
}

and don't forget to add the rollback option:

public function down()
{
    Schema::table('users', function($table) {
        $table->dropColumn('paid');
    });
}

Then you can run your migrations:

php artisan migrate

This is all well covered in the documentation for both Laravel 3:

And for Laravel 4 / Laravel 5:

Edit:

use $table->integer('paid')->after('whichever_column'); to add this field after specific column.

71
votes

I'll add on to mike3875's answer for future readers using Laravel 5.1 and onward.

To make things quicker, you can use the flag "--table" like this:

php artisan make:migration add_paid_to_users --table="users"

This will add the up and down method content automatically:

/**
 * Run the migrations.
 *
 * @return void
 */
public function up()
{
    Schema::table('users', function (Blueprint $table) {
        //
    });
}

Similarily, you can use the --create["table_name"] option when creating new migrations which will add more boilerplate to your migrations. Small point, but helpful when doing loads of them!

53
votes

laravel 5.6 and above

in case you want to add new column as a FOREIGN KEY to an existing table.

Create a new migration by executing this command : make:migration

Example :

php artisan make:migration add_store_id_to_users_table --table=users

In database/migrations folder you have new migration file, something like :

2018_08_08_093431_add_store_id_to_users_table.php (see the comments)

<?php

use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema;
use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint;
use Illuminate\Database\Migrations\Migration;

class AddStoreIdToUsersTable extends Migration
{
    /**
     * Run the migrations.
     *
     * @return void
     */
    public function up()
    {
        Schema::table('users', function (Blueprint $table) {

            // 1. Create new column
            // You probably want to make the new column nullable
            $table->integer('store_id')->unsigned()->nullable()->after('password');

            // 2. Create foreign key constraints
            $table->foreign('store_id')->references('id')->on('stores')->onDelete('SET NULL');
        });
    }

    /**
     * Reverse the migrations.
     *
     * @return void
     */
    public function down()
    {
        Schema::table('users', function (Blueprint $table) {

            // 1. Drop foreign key constraints
            $table->dropForeign(['store_id']);

            // 2. Drop the column
            $table->dropColumn('store_id');
        });
    }
}

After that run the command :

php artisan migrate

In case you want to undo the last migration for any reason, run this command :

php artisan migrate:rollback

You can find more information about migrations in the docs

27
votes

If you're using Laravel 5, the command would be;

php artisan make:migration add_paid_to_users

All of the commands for making things (controllers, models, migrations etc) have been moved under the make: command.

php artisan migrate is still the same though.

18
votes

You can add new columns within the initial Schema::create method like this:

Schema::create('users', function($table) {
    $table->integer("paied");
    $table->string("title");
    $table->text("description");
    $table->timestamps();
});

If you have already created a table you can add additional columns to that table by creating a new migration and using the Schema::table method:

Schema::table('users', function($table) {
    $table->string("title");
    $table->text("description");
    $table->timestamps();
});

The documentation is fairly thorough about this, and hasn't changed too much from version 3 to version 4.

8
votes

this things is worked on laravel 5.1.

first, on your terminal execute this code

php artisan make:migration add_paid_to_users --table=users

after that go to your project directory and expand directory database - migration and edit file add_paid_to_users.php, add this code

public function up()
{
    Schema::table('users', function (Blueprint $table) {
         $table->string('paid'); //just add this line
    });
}

after that go back to your terminal and execute this command

php artisan migrate

hope this help.

7
votes

Laravel 7

  1. Create a migration file using cli command:

    php artisan make:migration add_paid_to_users_table --table=users

  2. A file will be created in the migrations folder, open it in an editor.

  3. Add to the function up():

Schema::table('users', function (Blueprint $table) {
    // Create new column
    // You probably want to make the new column nullable
    $table->integer('paid')->nullable()->after('status');
}
  1. Add to the function down(), this will run in case migration fails for some reasons:

    $table->dropColumn('paid');

  2. Run migration using cli command:

    php artisan migrate


In case you want to add a column to the table to create a foreign key constraint:

In step 3 of the above process, you'll use the following code:

$table->bigInteger('address_id')->unsigned()->nullable()->after('tel_number');

$table->foreign('address_id')->references('id')->on('addresses')->onDelete('SET NULL');

In step 4 of the above process, you'll use the following code:

// 1. Drop foreign key constraints
$table->dropForeign(['address_id']);
// 2. Drop the column
$table->dropColumn('address_id');
6
votes

First rollback your previous migration

php artisan migrate:rollback

After that, you can modify your existing migration file (add new , rename or delete columns) then Re-Run your migration file

php artisan migrate
6
votes

WARNING this is a destructive action. If you use this ensure you back up your database first

you can simply modify your existing migration file, for example adding a column in your table, and then in your terminal typing :

$ php artisan migrate:refresh
3
votes

In Laravel 8

php artisan make:migration add_columnname_to_tablename_table --table=tablename

then after creating migration in

public function up()
    {
        Schema::table('users', function (Blueprint $table) {

            // 1. Create new column
            $table->datatype('column_name')->nullable();
        });
    }
public function down()
    {
        Schema::table('users', function (Blueprint $table) {

            // 1. Create new column
            $table->dropColumn('column_name');
        });
    }

then run

php artisan migrate

if you face error then rename the migration name with the date before the table created and then run again php artisan migrate

2
votes

Add column to your migration file and run this command.

php artisan migrate:refresh --path=/database/migrations/your_file_name.php
0
votes

Although a migration file is best practice as others have mentioned, in a pinch you can also add a column with tinker.

$ php artisan tinker

Here's an example one-liner for the terminal:

Schema::table('users', function(\Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint $table){ $table->integer('paid'); })



(Here it is formatted for readability)

Schema::table('users', function(\Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint $table){ 
    $table->integer('paid'); 
});
0
votes

First you have to create a migration, you can use the migrate:make command on the laravel artisan CLI.Old laravel version like laravel 4 you may use this command for Laravel 4:

php artisan migrate:make add_paid_to_users

And for laravel 5 version

for Laravel 5+:

php artisan make:migration add_paid_to_users_table --table=users

Then you need to use the Schema::table() . And you have to add the column:

public function up()

{

    Schema::table('users', function($table) {

        $table->integer('paid');

    });

}

further you can check this

-1
votes

just edit in migration file what you want to add a new column and run -->

php artisan migrate:refresh