How to use sometimes rule in Laravel 5 request class

Question

I have the following request class:

Answer 1

You can attach a sometimes() rule by overriding the getValidatorInstance() function in your form request:

protected function getValidatorInstance(){
    $validator = parent::getValidatorInstance();

    $validator->sometimes('dob', 'valid_date', function($input)
    {
        return apply_regex($input->dob) === true;
    });

    return $validator;
}

Answer 2

There is a documented way to make changes to the request's validator instance in Laravel 5.4. You should implement the withValidator method for that.

Based on the example from @lukasgeiter's answer, you may add the following to your request class:

/**
 * Configure the validator instance.
 *
 * @param  \Illuminate\Validation\Validator  $validator
 * @return void
 */
public function withValidator($validator)
{
    $validator->sometimes('dob', 'valid_date', function ($input) {
        return apply_regex($input->dob) === true;
    });
}

By doing this you don't have to worry about overriding internal methods. Besides, this seems to be the official way for configuring the validator.

Answer 3

You just need to add the dob key to the array you are returning, along with the validation ruleset to follow, including sometimes.

In this case:

'dob' : 'sometimes|required|regex:/[0-9]{2}\/[0-9]{2}\/[0-9]{4}/|valid_date'

Answer 4

According to your comment

I want the rule valid_date to only run if the regex rule returns true. Otherwise the valid_date rule errors if the date isnt in the right format.

Validator::extend('valid_date', function($attribute, $value, $parameters)
    {
       \\use the regex here instead

        if (!preg_match('/[0-9]{2}\/[0-9]{2}\/[0-9]{4}/', $value)) return false; 


        $pieces = explode('/', $value);
        if(strpos($value, '/')===FALSE) {
            return false;
        } else {
            if(checkdate($pieces[1], $pieces[0], $pieces[2])) {
                return true;
            } else {
                return false;
            }
        }
    });


$validator = Validator::make($data, [
   'first_name' => 'required',
    'last_name' => 'required',
    'email'     => 'required|email|unique:users,email',
    'dob'       => 'required|valid_date',
    'mobile'    => 'required',
    'password'  => 'required|confirmed'
]);