laravel Insert or update related records - php

Question

I'm having trouble updating and creating related records depending on if they exist or not. I want to update the ingredient if they exist, if not insert the ingredient into the database and relate it to the current meal.
public function update($id)
{
$meal = Meal::find($id);
$meal->name = Input::get('name');
// create ingredients
$ingredients = Input::get('ingredient');
$meal_ingredients = array();
foreach($ingredients as $ingredient)
{
$meal_ingredients[] = new Ingredient(array(
'name' => $ingredient['name'],
'unit' => $ingredient['unit'],
'quantity' => $ingredient['quantity']
));
}
//save into the DB
$meal->save();
$meal->ingredients()->saveMany($meal_ingredients);
// redirect
Flash::success('Votre repas a bien été mis à jour!');
return Redirect::to('/meals');
}

Answer 1

Step 1 : Get Meal
$meal = Meal::find($id);
Step 2 : Get Ingredients of Meal (create relation for this)
$ingredients = $meal->ingredients;
Step 3 : Compare Input to current and add does not exist
$new_ingredients = array();
foreach($ingredients as $ingredient)
{
if(!in_array($ingredient->toArray(), Input::get('ingredient')) {
$new_ingredients[] = new Ingredient(array(
'name' => $ingredient['name'],
'unit' => $ingredient['unit'],
'quantity' => $ingredient['quantity']
));
}
}
Step 4 Update
$meal->ingredients->saveMany($new_ingredients);
Ensure you got the relation between meal and ingredient correctly

Answer 2

You can use the firstOrNew() method. You pass it an array of data, and it will return the first record that matches that data, or if no record is found, a new instance of the class with the searched fields already set.
foreach($ingredients as $ingredient)
{
$meal_ingredients[] = Ingredient::firstOrNew(array(
'name' => $ingredient['name'],
))->fill(array(
'unit' => $ingredient['unit'],
'quantity' => $ingredient['quantity']
));
}