---
name: laravel-actions
description: Write, scaffold, explain, and refactor code using the lorisleiva/laravel-actions package. Use this skill whenever the user is working with Laravel Actions, wants to create an action class, convert a controller/job/listener/command into an action, asks how to use AsAction trait, dispatch an action as a job, use an action as a controller or listener, set up validation/authorization in an action, test or mock actions, or asks anything about the laravel-actions package pattern.
---
# Laravel Actions
`lorisleiva/laravel-actions` lets you write a single PHP class that handles **one specific task** and run it as an **object**, **controller**, **job**, **listener**, or **command** — whichever is appropriate.
Install: `composer require lorisleiva/laravel-actions`
Create: `php artisan make:action MyAction`
## Core structure
Every action is a plain PHP class with the `AsAction` trait and a `handle` method:
```php
use LorisleivaActionsConcernsAsAction;
class PublishNewArticle
{
use AsAction;
public function handle(User $author, string $title, string $body): Article
{
return $author->articles()->create(compact('title', 'body'));
}
}
```
- Place actions in `app/Actions/` grouped by topic (e.g. `app/Actions/Articles/`)
- Name them as short verb-first sentences: `SendWelcomeEmail`, `CreateInvoice`, `SyncContacts`
- Use constructor injection for dependencies — actions are always resolved from the container
## As an Object
```php
// Resolve and run
PublishNewArticle::run($author, 'Title', 'Body');
// Resolve only
$action = PublishNewArticle::make();
// Conditional execution
PublishNewArticle::runIf($condition, $author, 'Title', 'Body');
PublishNewArticle::runUnless($condition, $author, 'Title', 'Body');
```
## As a Controller
Register in routes just like an invokable controller:
```php
Route::post('/articles', PublishNewArticle::class)->middleware('auth');
```
Implement `asController` to map request data to `handle` args:
```php
public function asController(Request $request): ArticleResource
{
$article = $this->handle(
$request->user(),
$request->input('title'),
$request->input('body'),
);
return new ArticleResource($article);
}
```
If `asController` is omitted, `handle` is used directly as the invokable.
**Middleware** on the action itself:
```php
public function getControllerMiddleware(): array
{
return ['auth', 'verified'];
}
```
**Different responses for JSON vs HTML:**
```php
public function jsonResponse(Article $article, Request $request): ArticleResource
{
return new ArticleResource($article);
}
public function htmlResponse(Article $article, Request $request): RedirectResponse
{
return redirect()->route('articles.show', $article);
}
```
**Register routes inline** (optional):
```php
public static function routes(Router $router): void
{
$router->post('/articles', static::class);
}
```
Then call `Actions::registerRoutes(['app/Actions'])` in a service provider.
**Explicit route methods** for multi-endpoint actions:
```php
Route::get('/articles/create', [PublishNewArticle::class, 'showForm']);
Route::post('/articles', PublishNewArticle::class);
```
## Validation & Authorization (as Controller)
Inject `ActionRequest` to trigger validation/authorization defined on the action itself:
```php
use LorisleivaActionsActionRequest;
public function asController(ActionRequest $request): ArticleResource
{
$article = $this->handle(
$request->user(),
$request->validated('title'),
$request->validated('body'),
);
return new ArticleResource($article);
}
public function authorize(ActionRequest $request): bool
{
return $request->user()->can('create', Article::class);
}
public function rules(): array
{
return [
'title' => ['required', 'string', 'max:255'],
'body' => ['required', 'string'],
];
}
```
Additional validation hooks:
```php
public function prepareForValidation(ActionRequest $request): void { /* mutate input */ }
public function withValidator(Validator $validator): void { /* add callbacks */ }
public function afterValidator(Validator $validator): void { /* after hook */ }
public function getValidator(): Validator { /* full control */ }
public function getValidationData(): array { return $this->all(); }
public function getValidationMessages(): array { return []; }
public function getValidationAttributes(): array { return []; }
public function getValidationRedirect(Request $request): string { return url()->previous(); }
public function getValidationErrorBag(): string { return 'default'; }
public function getValidationFailure(): void { throw new ValidationException(...); }
public function getAuthorizationFailure(): void { throw new AuthorizationException(...); }
```
## As a Job
```php
// Async dispatch
PublishNewArticle::dispatch($author, 'Title', 'Body');
// Conditional dispatch
PublishNewArticle::dispatchIf($cond, $author, 'Title', 'Body');
PublishNewArticle::dispatchUnless($cond, $author, 'Title', 'Body');
// Sync dispatch
PublishNewArticle::dispatchSync($author, 'Title', 'Body');
// After response is sent
PublishNewArticle::dispatchAfterResponse($author, 'Title', 'Body');
```
Implement `asJob` only when the job-specific behaviour differs from `handle`:
```php
public function asJob(Team $team): void
{
$this->handle($team, fullReport: true);
}
```
**Configure job defaults:**
```php
public string $queue = 'emails';
public int $tries = 3;
public int $timeout = 60;
public int $maxExceptions = 2;
public function configureJob(JobDecorator $job): void
{
$job->onQueue('high')->delay(now()->addMinutes(5));
}
public function getJobBackoff(): array { return [10, 30, 60]; }
public function getJobRetryUntil(): DateTime { return now()->addHour(); }
public function getJobMiddleware(): array { return [new WithoutOverlapping($this->team->id)]; }
```
**Unique jobs:**
```php
use IlluminateContractsQueueShouldBeUnique;
class SendTeamReport implements ShouldBeUnique
{
use AsAction;
public function getJobUniqueId(Team $team): int { return $team->id; }
public function getJobUniqueFor(): int { return 3600; }
}
```
**Job chaining:**
```php
SendWelcomeEmail::withChain([
VerifyEmailAddress::makeJob($user),
AssignDefaultRole::makeJob($user),
])->dispatch($user);
```
**Batching:**
```php
use IlluminateSupportFacadesBus;
Bus::batch([
ProcessInvoice::makeJob($invoiceA),
ProcessInvoice::makeJob($invoiceB),
])->dispatch();
```
**Horizon tags & display name:**
```php
public function getJobTags(Team $team): array { return ["team:{$team->id}"]; }
public function getJobDisplayName(): string { return 'Send Team Report'; }
```
## As a Listener
Register in `EventServiceProvider`:
```php
protected $listen = [
UserRegistered::class => [SendWelcomeEmail::class],
];
```
Or with the Event facade:
```php
Event::listen(UserRegistered::class, SendWelcomeEmail::class);
```
For a **queueable listener**, add `implements ShouldQueue` to the action.
Use `asListener` to map event data to `handle` args:
```php
public function asListener(UserRegistered $event): void
{
$this->handle($event->user);
}
```
## As a Command
Register in `Kernel::$commands` or auto-register:
```php
Actions::registerCommands(['app/Actions']);
```
```php
use IlluminateConsoleCommand;
class SendTeamReport
{
use AsAction;
public string $commandSignature = 'teams:report {team_id}';
public string $commandDescription = 'Send the weekly report to a team.';
public function asCommand(Command $command): void
{
$team = Team::findOrFail($command->argument('team_id'));
$this->handle($team);
$command->info('Report sent!');
}
// Dynamic signature/description/help:
public function getCommandSignature(): string { return '...'; }
public function getCommandDescription(): string { return '...'; }
public function getCommandHelp(): string { return '...'; }
public function isCommandHidden(): bool { return false; }
}
```
## Testing & Mocking
```php
// Mock — set expectations before running
PublishNewArticle::mock()
->shouldReceive('handle')
->once()
->andReturn($fakeArticle);
// Shorthand
PublishNewArticle::mock()->shouldRun()->once()->andReturn($fakeArticle);
PublishNewArticle::mock()->shouldNotRun();
// Partial mock (only mocked methods get expectations)
PublishNewArticle::partialMock()->shouldReceive('fetch')->andReturn([...]);
// Spy — run first, assert after
PublishNewArticle::spy()->shouldHaveReceived('handle')->once();
PublishNewArticle::spy()->allowToRun();
// Lifecycle helpers
PublishNewArticle::isFake(); // bool — is currently mocked?
PublishNewArticle::clearFake(); // reset to real implementation
```
**Assert jobs were dispatched:**
```php
Queue::fake();
// ...trigger code...
PublishNewArticle::assertPushed();
PublishNewArticle::assertPushed(2); // dispatched exactly N times
PublishNewArticle::assertPushed(fn ($action, $args) => $args[0]->is($team));
PublishNewArticle::assertNotPushed();
PublishNewArticle::assertPushedOn('high', fn ($action, $args) => true);
```
## WithAttributes (optional, v2.1+)
For actions that benefit from validated, unified attribute bags (useful when porting v1 code or when the same validation should apply across object and controller usage):
```php
use LorisleivaActionsConcernsAsAction;
use LorisleivaActionsConcernsWithAttributes;
class PublishNewArticle
{
use AsAction;
use WithAttributes;
public function handle(User $author, array $data = []): Article
{
$this->fill($data);
$this->validateAttributes(); // triggers authorize + rules
return $author->articles()->create($this->validated());
}
public function asController(ActionRequest $request): Article
{
$this->fillFromRequest($request);
return $this->handle($request->user());
}
}
```
`WithAttributes` methods: `fill`, `set`, `get`, `has`, `all`, `only`, `except`, `fillFromRequest`, `validateAttributes`.
Note: when `WithAttributes` is used, the `ActionRequest` will **not** auto-validate — call `$request->validate()` manually if needed.
## More granular traits
Instead of `AsAction` you can cherry-pick:
- `AsObject` — `run`, `make`, `runIf`, `runUnless`
- `AsController` — controller decorator support
- `AsJob` — job decorator support
- `AsListener` — listener decorator support
- `AsCommand` — command decorator support
- `AsFake` — mock/spy support
## Reference docs
For full API details, see:
- [references/api.md](references/api.md) — complete method list per trait