Laravel Request Input is not usable data - laravel

Question

Ok maybe this is a noob laravel question but when I'm trying to store data from a form I used a $request->input in a query to get a needed field for insert but the query will not run. Note: does run if I just set something like $project_id = 6.
public function store(Request $request)
{
$project_id = $request->input('project_id');
$company = Project::where('id', $project_id)->first();
if(Auth::check()){
$task = Task::create([
'name' => $request->input('name'),
'project_id' => $project_id,
'company_id' => $company->id,
'days' => $request->input('days'),
'hours' => $request->input('hours'),
'user_id' => Auth::user()->id
]);
if($task){
return redirect()->route('tasks.index')
->with('success' , 'Task created successfully');
}
}
return back()->withInput()->with('errors', 'Error creating new task');
}
Note:
I've tried a couple different things I've found online like $project_id = $request->project_id or $project_id = $request['project_id']
Is request->input just used for inserts and can't be used as a normal varible?
Update: here is the create.blade form it's coming from
#extends('layouts.app')
#section('content')
<div class="row col-md-9 col-lg-9 col-sm-9 pull-left " >
<h1>Add a Task </h1>
<!-- Example row of columns -->
<div class="col-md-12 col-lg-12 col-sm-12" style="background: white; margin: 10px;" >
<form method="post" action="{{ route('tasks.store') }}">
{{ csrf_field() }}
<div class="form-group">
<label for="project-name">Name<span class="required">*</span></label>
<input placeholder="Enter name"
id="project-name"
required
name="name"
spellcheck="false"
class="form-control"
/>
</div>
<div class="form-group">
<label for="task-days">Days Taken<span class="required"></span></label>
<input
id="task-days"
required
name="days"
type="number"
spellcheck="false"
class="form-control"
/>
</div>
<div class="form-group">
<label for="task-hours">Hours Taken<span class="required"></span></label>
<input
id="task-hours"
required
name="hours"
type="number"
spellcheck="false"
class="form-control"
/>
</div>
<input
class="form-control"
type="hidden"
name="project_id"
value="{{ $project_id }}"
/>
#if($projects != null)
<div class="form-group">
<label for="company-content">Select Project</label>
<select name="project_id" class="form-control">
#foreach($projects as $project)
<option value="{{$project_id}}">{{ $project->name }}</option>
#endforeach
</select>
</div>
#endif
<div class="form-group">
<input type="submit" class="btn btn-primary"
value="Submit"/>
</div>
</form>
</div>
</div>
<div class="col-sm-3 col-md-3 col-lg-3 col-sm-3 pull-right">
<div class="sidebar-module sidebar-module-inset">
<h4>Actions</h4>
<ol class="list-unstyled">
<li>All tasks</li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>
#endsection

Answer 1

Let's examine your <form> below:
<input class="form-control" type="hidden" name="project_id" value="{{ $project_id }}"/>
#if($projects != null)
<div class="form-group">
<label for="company-content">Select Project</label>
<select name="project_id" class="form-control">
#foreach($projects as $project)
<option value="{{ $project_id }}">{{ $project->name }}</option>
#endforeach
</select>
</div>
#endif
In this code, you have a hidden input with the name "project_id", and if $projects is not null, you also have a select with the name "project_id". Having multiple elements with the same name is invalid, and can cause issues.
Secondly, in this line:
<option value="{{ $project_id }}">{{ $project->name }}</option>
$project_id is the same value you have in the hidden input above. When you're looping over $projects, this should be $project->id:
<option value="{{ $project->id }}">{{ $project->name }}</option>
Lastly, make sure that $project_id is a valid value if you're going to send it, and consider adjusting your logic to only send the hidden input if $projects is null:
#if($projects != null)
<div class="form-group">
<label for="company-content">Select Project</label>
<select name="project_id" class="form-control">
#foreach($projects as $project)
<option value="{{ $project->id }}">{{ $project->name }}</option>
#endforeach
</select>
</div>
#else
<input class="form-control" type="hidden" name="project_id" value="{{ $project_id }}"/>
#endif
With all that adjusted, you should be able to retrieve the expected value with $request->input("project_id")