Laravel 3 search function controller - php

Question

I am still new in Laravel. I'm trying to create search box for searching users by their username.
What is the best way to create controller for Laravel search box?
The view that I have look as follows:
{{ Form::search_open('/users/search') }}
{{ Form::search_box('search','admin', array('class' => 'input-medium')) }}
{{ Form::submit('Search'); }}
{{ Form::close() }}
I have the controller as below:
class Users_Controller extends Base_Controller {
public function action_search() {
$userdetail = Input::get("username");
$details = User::where('username', '=', Input::get('username')) - > first();
return Redirect::to_route("users");
}
}

Answer 1

You may try something like this :
Route :
Route::get('/search', array('as' => 'user.search', 'uses' => 'user#search'));
View : (search/index.blade.php)
{{ Form::open(URL::to_route('user.search')) }}
{{ $errors->has('username') ? $errors->first('username','<span class="error">:message</span>') : '' }}
{{ Form::text('username', Input::old('username', $username), array('class' => 'input-medium')) }}
{{ Form::submit('Search'); }}
{{ Form::close() }}
#if ( isset($user) )
#foreach ($user->results as $user)
{{ $user->first_name }}
{{ $user->last_name }}
#endforeach
#endif
Controller : (controllers/user.php)
class User_Controller extends Base_Controller
{
public function action_search()
{
$data['username'] = Input::get('username');
if(Input::get())
{
$rules=array( 'username' => 'required' );
$validation = Validator::make(Input::all(), $rules);
if($validation->fails())
{
return Redirect::back()->with_errors($validation)->with_input();
}
else {
data['user'] = User::where('username', '=', Input::get('username'));
}
}
return View::make('search.index', $data);
}
}
Model : (models/user.php)
class User extends Eloquent
{
// ...
}