Laravel and php best multiple search method - php

Question

I have a controller that get the four inputs from a search form.
SearchController.php code
public function results(Request $request) {
$text = $request -> text;
$pet = $request -> pet;
$category = $request -> category;
$city = $request -> city;
$searchArray = [];
if(empty($text) && empty($pet) && empty($category) && empty($city)) {
Session::flash('danger', "You didn't select any search any search.");
return redirect() -> back();
}
//SEARCH CODE HERE
}
What I am trying to do
I am trying to search 4 columns in my database
Problem is
I need also to search the 4 columns in one query.
That means that I need to check if the $text variable is not empty and $pet variable is not empty then I have to do this query:
if(!empty($text) && !empty($pet))
$result = Post::where('text', 'like', '%'.$text.'%') -> where('text', $pet) -> get();
This method will work fine but I will have multiple if statements that will check all the possibilities.
Is there faster and optimal solution?

Answer 1

Option 1
Build logic manually. This is the best way in many situations. An example:
$result = Post::query();
if (!empty($text)) {
$result = $result->where('text', 'like', '%'.$text.'%');
}
if (!empty($pet)) {
$result = $result->where('pet', $pet);
}
if (!empty($category)) {
$result = $result->where('category', $category);
}
if (!empty($city)) {
$result = $result->where('city', 'like', '%'.$city.'%');
}
$result = $result->get();
Option 2
Use conditional clauses. Example:
Post::when($text, function ($q) use ($text) {
return $q->where('text', 'like', '%'.$text.'%');
})
->when($pet, function ($q) use ($pet) {
return $q->where('pet', $pet);
})
->when($category, function ($q) use ($category) {
return $q->where('category', $category);
})
->when($city, function ($q) use ($city) {
return $q->where('city', 'like', '%'.$city.'%');
})
->get();