How to Create Dummy Data for Testing using Factory in Laravel 11?

Laravel is a popular PHP framework that comes with lots of features and makes development easier. One of the useful features is using a factory to generate dummy data.

Many times in Laravel we need test data for some functionality. Adding data manually takes a lot of time. To avoid that, Laravel provides us with a factory to generate test data. Laravel factory allows to create dummy or test data for testing purposes. Hence, using a factory you can test your application without real data.

Steps to Create Dummy Data for Testing using Factory in Laravel 11:

Step 1: Create a Model

Use the below command to create a model

php artisan make:model Book

<?php
namespace App\Models;
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Factories\HasFactory;
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
class Book extends Model
{
    use HasFactory;
    protected $fillable = [
        'name', 'author', 'published_at', 'isbn'
    ];
}

Step 2: Create a New Factory for Class Book

Use the below command to create a new factory for the class book

php artisan make:factory BookFactory

Go to the path below

database\factories\BookFactory.php

And add the code as follows

<?php
namespace Database\Factories;
use App\Models\Book;
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Factories\Factory;
/**
 * @extends \Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Factories\Factory<\App\Models\Book>
 */
class BookFactory extends Factory
{
    protected $model = Book::class;
    /**
     * Define the model's default state.
     *
     * @return array<string, mixed>
     */
    public function definition()
    {
        return [
            'name' => $this->faker->title,
            'author' => $this->faker->name,
            'published_at' => $this->faker->date,
            'isbn' => $this->faker->isbn13,
        ];
    }
}

Step 3: Test Output

Run the below commands for output

php artisan tinker
Book::factory()->count(10)->create()

Conclusion

Laravel 11 enhances the developer experience with its robust and intuitive factories. By following the steps in this guide, you can generate realistic dummy data efficiently, improving the reliability of your testing and development processes.

If you have any questions or additional tips about using factories in Laravel 11, feel free to share them in the comments!

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