// Create a new user in the database...
$user = User::create(array('name' => 'John'));

// Retrieve the user by the attributes, or create it if it doesn't exist...
$user = User::firstOrCreate(array('name' => 'John'));

// Retrieve the user by the attributes, or instantiate a new instance...ddd
$user = User::firstOrNew(array('name' => 'John'));