User variables of a function, in another function - php

Question

I have a Laravel app, which the following PHP code:
public function handle()
{
$post_item->category_id = $source->category_id;
$post_item->featured = 0;
$post_item->type = Posts::TYPE_SOURCE;
$post_item->render_type = $item['render_type'];
$post_item->source_id = $source->id;
$post_item->description = is_array($item['description'])?'':$item['description'];
$post_item->featured_image = $item['featured_image'];
$post_item->video_embed_code = $item['video_embed_code'];
$post_item->dont_show_author_publisher = $source->dont_show_author_publisher;
$post_item->show_post_source = $source->show_post_source;
$post_item->show_author_box = $source->dont_show_author_publisher == 1 ? 0 : 1;
$post_item->show_author_socials = $source->dont_show_author_publisher == 1 ? 0 : 1;
$post_item->rating_box = 0;
$post_item->created_at = $item['pubDate'];
$post_item->views = 1;
$post_item->save();
$this->createTags($item['categories'], $post_item->id);
// This is where I want to add my echo
}
public function createTags($tags, $post_id)
{
$post_tags = PostTags::where('post_id', $post_id)->get();
foreach ($post_tags as $post_tag) {
Tags::where('id', $post_tag->tag_id)->delete();
}
PostTags::where('post_id', $post_id)->delete();
foreach ($tags as $tag) {
$old_tag=Tags::where('title',$tag)->first();
if(isset($old_tag))
{
$pt = new PostTags();
$pt->post_id = $post_id;
$pt->tag_id = $old_tag->id;
$pt->save();
}
else {
$new_tag = new Tags();
$new_tag->title = $tag;
$new_tag->slug = Str::slug($tag);
$new_tag->save();
$pt = new PostTags();
$pt->post_id = $post_id;
$pt->tag_id = $new_tag->id;
$pt->save();
}
}
}
Im trying to echo the the title along with the tags, right after the commented place, but it fails to provide the correct output. I was wondering if Im using the correct way or my workaround is completely wrong.
Im using this code in the commented part:
$tweet = $post_item->title . ' tags: ' . $post_item->tags;
After doing some tests, I realized that if I use
var_dump($tag);
right after
foreach ($tags as $tag)
at my createTags function, it seems that all tags are output correctly.
Im wondering if I can store all $tags inside the createTag function's foreach, under a globally accessed variable that would be used in the initial handle function echoed.

Answer 1

Guessing the post item model has a relation "tags" you could try this:
$tweet = $post_item->title . ' tags: ' . implode(', ', $post_item->tags->toArray());
Also if you would just like to echo the tags on the commented place, try this:
echo implode(',', $item['categories']);

Answer 2

try if $post_item->tags - is array then
$tweet = $post_item->title . ' tags: ' . implode(', ', $post_item->tags);
if - collection then
$tweet = $post_item->title . ' tags: ' . $post_item->tags->join(', ');