Disable Laravel"s Eloquent timestamps

How to Disable Laravel's Eloquent Timestamps

So, you're converting your web application from CodeIgniter to Laravel, but you're facing an issue with Laravel's Eloquent timestamps. You don't want to add the updated_at and created_at fields to all of your tables because you already have a logging class that handles this for you. Don't worry, there's a solution!

The Problem: Unwanted Eloquent Timestamps

Laravel's Eloquent ORM automatically manages timestamps for your database records. By default, every Eloquent model has created_at and updated_at fields, which get automatically updated whenever records are created or updated.

But in your case, you have a dedicated logging class that handles timestamps and you don't want to clutter your tables with additional timestamp fields.

The Solution: Disabling Timestamps

Thankfully, Laravel provides an easy way to disable Eloquent timestamps without the need to modify core files or add code to every model class. Here's how you can do it:

Step 1: Create a Base Model Class

Create a base model class that extends Laravel's Eloquent Model class. This base model will serve as a parent class for all your models, allowing you to customize Eloquent's behavior.

<?php

namespace App\Models;

use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;

class BaseModel extends Model
{
    public $timestamps = false;
}

Step 2: Extend the Base Model in Your Models

Now, instead of extending Laravel's Model class directly, extend your newly created BaseModel class in all your models. This way, the public $timestamps = false; property will be inherited, disabling timestamps for all your models.

<?php

namespace App\Models;

class User extends BaseModel
{
    // Your model code here
}

Step 3: Update the Namespace

Make sure to update the namespace of your models to reflect the new location of your BaseModel. For example, if you placed your BaseModel class in the App\Models namespace, update your models like this:

<?php

namespace App\Models;

class User extends BaseModel
{
    // Your model code here
}

That's it! By extending the BaseModel class in your models, all of them will now have timestamps disabled. You won't need to modify the core files or add code to every model individually.

Call-to-Action: Share Your Experience and Insights

Have you faced any issues with Laravel's Eloquent timestamps? How did you tackle them? Share your experience and insights with the community in the comments below. Let's help each other optimize our Laravel development workflows! 💪💻

Remember, if you found this guide helpful, don't forget to share it with your developer friends who might be struggling with Eloquent timestamps. Together, we can make Laravel development even smoother! 🚀🌟