Eloquent also assumes a primary key called id and two timestamp columns, created_at and updated_at. All of these can be overridden, but you rarely need to.

1. Generate the model

   Models live in app/Models/. Add flags to create related files at the same time.

   
             php artisan make:model Post                 # just the model
             php artisan make:model Category -m          # + migration
             php artisan make:model Comment -mfc         # + migration, factory, controller
           

   
             <?php
   
             namespace App\Models;
   
             use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
   
             class Post extends Model
             {
                 //
             }
           

   That empty class already works. Post::all() would return every row in posts.

2. Override conventions only when you must

   If you're stuck with a legacy table, set a property to tell Eloquent the real names.

   
             class Post extends Model
             {
                 protected $table = 'blog_articles';  // table isn't "posts"
                 protected $primaryKey = 'article_id'; // key isn't "id"
                 public $timestamps = false;           // no created_at / updated_at
             }
           

   For a fresh project, skip all three and follow the conventions.

3. Guard against mass assignment

   Mass assignment means filling many attributes at once from an array, like Post::create($request->all()). That's convenient but risky: a sneaky user could post user_id=1 and claim someone else's post. $fillable is an allow-list of columns that may be mass-assigned.

   
             class Post extends Model
             {
                 protected $fillable = [
                     'title',
                     'slug',
                     'body',
                     'category_id',
                     'published_at',
                 ];
             }
           

   The opposite is $guarded, a block-list. protected $guarded = ['id']; allows everything except id. Pick one style per model. $fillable is the safer default for beginners because new columns are blocked until you opt in.

   ℹ️ Notice what's missing

   user_id isn't fillable. You'll set it from the logged-in user instead, e.g. $request->user()->posts()->create(...). More in SQL Injection & Mass Assignment.

4. Cast columns to useful PHP types

   Databases return most values as strings. The casts() method tells Eloquent how to convert each column on the way out (and back on the way in).

   
             protected function casts(): array
             {
                 return [
                     'published_at' => 'datetime',  // Carbon date object
                     'is_featured'  => 'boolean',   // true / false
                     'views'        => 'integer',
                     'meta'         => 'array',     // JSON column ⇄ PHP array
                 ];
             }
           

   
             $post->published_at->diffForHumans(); // "3 days ago"
             if ($post->is_featured) { /* real boolean */ }
           

5. Shape values with accessors and mutators

   An accessor changes a value when you read it; a mutator changes it when you write it. In modern Laravel, both are one method returning an Attribute.

   
             use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Casts\Attribute;
             use Illuminate\Support\Str;
   
             // Accessor + mutator on a real column
             protected function title(): Attribute
             {
                 return Attribute::make(
                     get: fn (string $value) => Str::headline($value),
                     set: fn (string $value) => trim($value),
                 );
             }
   
             // A "virtual" attribute with no column behind it
             protected function readingTime(): Attribute
             {
                 return Attribute::make(
                     get: fn () => max(1, (int) ceil(str_word_count($this->body) / 200)) . ' min read',
                 );
             }
           

   Use them as normal properties: $post->title and $post->reading_time (the method name in camelCase becomes a snake_case property).

6. Let timestamps work for you

   When a model is created, Eloquent fills created_at and updated_at. On every save it refreshes updated_at. Both come back as Carbon dates automatically.

   
             $post = Post::create(['title' => 'Hello', 'slug' => 'hello', 'body' => '...']);
             $post->created_at;                  // 2025-03-10 12:00:00 (Carbon)
             $post->created_at->format('M j, Y'); // "Mar 10, 2025"
             $post->touch();                     // bump updated_at only
           

• One model per table: Post ⇄ posts, Category ⇄ categories.
• $fillable is an allow-list for mass assignment; $guarded is a block-list. Prefer $fillable.
• casts() converts columns into dates, booleans, integers and arrays automatically.
• Attribute::make(get:, set:) defines accessors and mutators in one method.
• created_at and updated_at are managed for you.