orWhereRaw - PHP

Introduction

In PHP, the orWhereRaw method is used in conjunction with the Laravel query builder to add a raw or custom SQL WHERE clause with OR operator to a query. It allows developers to write complex conditions that can't be directly accomplished with the standard methods provided by the query builder.

Syntax

The syntax for using orWhereRaw method is as follows:

->orWhereRaw('raw SQL condition')

Usage

The orWhereRaw method is typically used within a query builder instance to append a raw SQL condition to an existing query. It takes a single parameter that represents the raw SQL condition.

The raw SQL condition is written as a string and can include placeholders. The placeholders will be automatically bound by Laravel, preventing SQL injection vulnerabilities.

Here's an example that demonstrates the usage of orWhereRaw:

$users = DB::table('users')
                ->where('status', '=', 'active')
                ->orWhereRaw('age > 18')
                ->get();

In this example, the query selects all users where the status is set to 'active' or the age is greater than 18. The orWhereRaw method allows us to include the custom condition age > 18 in the query.

Additional Examples

Using placeholders

Placeholders allow dynamic input to the raw condition. They are represented by a ? in the raw SQL condition and are automatically escaped when binding the values.

Here's an example that demonstrates the usage of placeholders:

$minAge = 18;

$users = DB::table('users')
                ->where('status', '=', 'active')
                ->orWhereRaw('age > ?', [$minAge])
                ->get();

In this example, the value of the $minAge variable is bound to the placeholder, allowing dynamic filtering based on user input.

Multiple raw conditions

Multiple orWhereRaw statements can be used to add multiple raw SQL conditions to the query.

Here's an example that demonstrates the usage of multiple orWhereRaw statements:

$minAge = 18;
$maxAge = 30;

$users = DB::table('users')
                ->where('status', '=', 'active')
                ->orWhereRaw('age > ?', [$minAge])
                ->orWhereRaw('age < ?', [$maxAge])
                ->get();

In this example, the query selects users where the status is 'active' or the age is greater than the $minAge variable or the age is less than the $maxAge variable.

Conclusion

The orWhereRaw method in PHP allows developers to add raw SQL conditions with OR operator to Laravel query builder queries. It provides flexibility in writing complex conditions that aren't directly supported by the standard query builder methods. By using placeholders, the method ensures proper escaping and prevents SQL injection vulnerabilities.