Laravel Request exists() vs has() vs filled() difference

PHP Dasun Kalupahana October 11, 2026 326 views

<?php

use Illuminate\Http\Request;

// Request: ?name=&age=0&city
public function show(Request $request)
{
    $request->has('name');      // true  (key present, value is "")
    $request->exists('name');   // true  (alias of has)
    $request->filled('name');   // false (value is empty)

    $request->has('age');       // true
    $request->filled('age');    // true  (0 counts as filled)

    $request->has('country');   // false (key not sent)
    $request->missing('country'); // true

    $request->hasAny(['name', 'country']); // true (at least one key is present)
}

exists() is an alias of has(), and both only check that the key was sent, even when its value is empty or null. Use filled() when you need a non-empty value and missing() when the key must be absent.

#laravel #request #has #exists #filled #validation #input