php - How to index returned array by key with eager loading in Laravel Eloquent? -

i'm working on side project in trying implement "like" functionality user's posts. using laravel's orm , use eager loading make things easier, i'll outline issue below. information first, post.php model contains this:

public function likes() {     return $this->hasmany('app\models\postlike', 'post_id', 'post_id'); } 

the postcontroller.php implementing api call load posts , likes looked like:

$posts = post::with("likes")->where("group_id", "=", $group_id)->get(); 

an example json response posts api might this:

[     {         "post_id":1,         "group_id":1,         "author_id":1,         "text":"some text here.",         "created_at":"2015-08-13 00:15:08",         "updated_at":"2015-08-13 00:15:08",         "likes":[             {"post_id":1,"user_id":1,"updated_at":"2015-08-14 03:05:48"}         ]     } ] 

the issue "likes" not indexed user_id, have search through array determine if user has liked post or not, easier have indexed unique user_id key. yield like:

[     {         "post_id":1,         "group_id":1,         "author_id":1,         "text":"some text here.",         "created_at":"2015-08-13 00:15:08",         "updated_at":"2015-08-13 00:15:08",         "likes":{             "1": {"post_id":1,"user_id":1,"updated_at":"2015-08-14 03:05:48"}         }     } ] 

so ultimate question how index eager loading response 1 of columns returns?

in order achieve that, you'll need add post-processing step code index array id. easy using collection's helper method keyby().

what need accessor load relation if needed , reindex array. accessor can used in different scenarios, without eagerly loading relation, that's why needs handle relation loading if needed.

adding method post model should trick:

public function getlikesattribute() {   return $this->getrelationvalue('likes')->keyby('user_id'); } 

custom accessors take priority above relation definitions in cases that, when botu likes() , getlikesattribute() exist. that's why accessor called when $post->likes , reindex table.