how to save and retrieve base64 encoded data using Laravel model - laravel

Question

I am doing a web app using Laravel 7 api.
I receive data with a json request that I must store in the db with a base64 encoding.
I store the data in this way:
public function create_request(Request $request)
{
$req_store = new Req;
$req_store->text = base64_encode($request->input('requestInformations.text'));
$req_store->save();
}
Then obviously to retrieve the data of the text column I must use everytime base64_decode().
My question is that: is there a way to say to Laravel that everytime that I store a new request the column text must be authomatically encoded to base64 and everytime that I retrieve that data from the database the field text must be authomatically base64 decoded? I suppose I must write something in the Req.php model...
Can help?

Answer 1

You should use Accessors & Mutators for this. Please follow the link https://laravel.com/docs/7.x/eloquent-mutators#accessors-and-mutators
public function getTextAttribute($value)
{
return base64_decode($value);
}
public function setTextAttribute($value)
{
$this->attributes['text'] = base64_encode($value);
}

Answer 2

You may use a custom caster
https://laravel.com/docs/7.x/eloquent-mutators#custom-casts
<?php
namespace App\Casts;
use Illuminate\Contracts\Database\Eloquent\CastsAttributes;
class Base64 implements CastsAttributes
{
/**
* Cast the given value.
*
* #param \Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model $model
* #param string $key
* #param mixed $value
* #param array $attributes
* #return mixed
*/
public function get($model, $key, $value, $attributes)
{
return base64_decode($value);
}
/**
* Prepare the given value for storage.
*
* #param \Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model $model
* #param string $key
* #param array $value
* #param array $attributes
* #return string
*/
public function set($model, $key, $value, $attributes)
{
return base64_encode($value);
}
}
And in your model
use App\Casts\Base64;
/**
* The attributes that should be cast.
*
* #var array
*/
protected $casts = [
'text' => Base64::class,
];