Using controller to edit database on click in Laravel 5.4 - php

Question

I'm trying to have a button pass a query to the database when it's clicked. I'd like to have this set within a Controller that also stores requests and deletes requests. I was able to write to the database using store() and destroy(), but my edit() function gives me routing trouble. What is the best method to edit records using a controller? How would you build the edit() function? Or...should I be using the Update() function? I'm a Laravel/PHP beginner, please explain your answers if you can. Thank you!!
Overview: The project is an employee records table. I want to click a button that changes the employment status of an employee. I already have buttons to add new employee and delete and employee using this same Controller.
This is the route I set for the page:
Route::resource('employees', 'EmployeeController');
This is the front end form code for the button:
$workers = DB::table('employees')->get();
#foreach($workers as $employee)
{!! Form::open(array(
'method' => 'edit',
'route' => [ 'employees.edit', $employee->id]
)
)
!!}
<button type="submit">Release </button>
{!! Form::close() !!}
#endforeach
This is my store function and destroy function:
public function store(Request $request)
{
// Confirm Both Fields Are Not Empty
$this->validate($request, [
'first_name' => 'required',
'last_name' => 'required',
]);
//Add a new employee using the request data
$employee = new Employee;
$employee->first_name = request('first_name');
$employee->last_name = request('last_name');
$employee->position = request('position');
$employee->salary = request('salary');
$employee->hire_date = request('hire_date');
//$employee->attach = request('attach');
//Save it to the database
$employee->save();
//And then redirect back to the Employees page
return redirect('/employees');
}
public function destroy($id)
{
$employee = Employee::find($id);
$destroysignal = $employee->delete();
if($destroysignal) {
return redirect('employees');
}
}

Answer 1

You don't edit records, you update them. In your case you need an update() function in your controller
public function update(Request $request, $id)
{
$employee = Employee::findOrFail($id);
$employee->employment_status = true; //or false or whatever your statuses are
$employee->update();
return redirect()->back()->with('message', 'Employee updated!');
}
In your form, use the update route instead
{!! Form::model($employee, [
'method' => 'PATCH',
'route' => ['employees.update', $employee->id]])
!!}
<button type="submit">Release </button>
{!! Form::close() !!}
When using resource routes, 'route' => [ 'employees.edit', $employee->id] will most like to open a page where you want to edit the object. And the route will be bound to the edit($id) function of your controller.
With that said, the edit route doesn't need a form. A simple anchor would do
Edit Employee