Store an array of elements to database (Laravel) - php

Question

I need advice how to store an array to database. For example i have an input with name="user_phone[]" and i want to store to database the value of this input.
I have a form like so, also there other inputs but i copy just one:
{!! Form::open([route('some.router')]) !!}
<fieldset class="form-group">
{{ Form::label(null, 'Phone') }}
{{ Form::text('user_phone[]', null, ['class' => 'form-control'] ) }}
</fieldset>
{!! Form::close() !!}
and the controller:
public function postAddOrder(Request $request)
{
$this->validate($request, [
'receipt_date' => 'date|required',
'return_date' => 'date|required',
'user_name' => 'required',
'user_phone' => 'required',
'work_sum' => 'integer|required',
'user_descr' => 'required',
'foruser_descr' => 'required'
]);
$user = new User;
$user = $user->all()->find($request->input('user_name'));
$order = new Order([
'receipt_date' => $request->input('receipt_date'),
'return_date' => $request->input('return_date'),
'user_name' => $user->fio,
'user_phone' => $request->input('user_phone'),
'device' => $request->input('device'),
'work_sum' => $request->input('work_sum'),
'master_name' => $request->input('master_name'),
'user_descr' => $request->input('user_descr'),
'foruser_descr' => $request->input('foruser_descr'),
'type' => $request->input('type'),
'status' => $request->input('status'),
'engineer' => $request->input('engineer'),
'partner' => $request->input('partner'),
'office' => $request->input('office')
]);
$order->save();
return redirect()->route('admin.orders.index');
}
The problem is when i'm submitting the form and getting the error:
htmlentities() expects parameter 1 to be string, array given
Also i'm using casts to store an array to DB:
/**
* The attributes that should be casted to native types.
*
* #var array
*/
protected $casts = [
'user_phone' => 'array',
];
The values are storing correctly, the main problem is that the validate() method is not catching the errors. For example im not filling some data in inputs which are required. When instead of getting the error like something is required im getting error
htmlentities() expects parameter 1 to be string, array given
When im filling all input with data everything goes ok.

Answer 1

I think the problem comes from your rule
'user_phone' => 'required
To validate array values you should use the array validation. (Link)
rewrite your rule like so
"user_phone.0" => "required"
this will ensure that at least one user_phone is provided.
In case you wanna validate phone format just go with:
"user_phone.*" => "{Insert validation here}"

Answer 2

Found the definition.
{!! Form::open([route('some.router')]) !!}
<fieldset class="form-group">
{{ Form::label(null, 'Phone') }}
{{ Form::text('user_phone[0]', null, ['class' => 'form-control'] ) }}
</fieldset>
{!! Form::close() !!}
We must pass the index in inputs. Like name="user_phone[0]" after that we are not getting the error:
htmlentities() expects parameter 1 to be string, array given
And validate() method catching the errors. It was the only solution for me.