In every modern Laravel project, whether you’re building on version 10, 11, or the latest Laravel 12, field validation isn’t optional; it’s essential for keeping data clean and user workflows stable. Two trusted methods stand out: the classic IN rule for quick, fixed lists and Enum validation powered by PHP 8.1+ native enums for stricter type safety.
This fresh 2025 content breaks down how each method works, shows real-world syntax, and explains when to choose one over the other so your Laravel forms, APIs, and admin dashboards stay reliable, maintainable, and easier to scale.
What Is the IN Rule in Laravel?
In Laravel (including version 12), the IN rule is a quick way to make sure a field’s value matches one of a fixed set of allowed options. It’s perfect for simple cases where you have known, static choices you don’t expect to change often.
How it looks:
$request->validate([ 'status' => 'required|in:pending,approved,rejected',
]);
- Best used for: small dropdowns, user roles, payment methods, or order statuses
- Why devs love it: simple to write, lightweight, no extra classes or setup needed
- Limitation: values are hardcoded, so it’s less flexible for large or dynamic lists
Sometimes, you might want to validate more than one field at once:
$request->validate([ 'status' => 'required|in:pending,approved,rejected',
'role' => 'required|in:admin,user,editor',
]);
// Quick way to keep multiple fields limited to fixed options
Validate User Roles with IN Rule
$request->validate([ 'role' => 'required|in:admin,user,editor',
]);
Customize the Error Message
'custom' => [ 'role' => [
'in' => 'The selected role is invalid. Please choose admin, user, or editor.',
],
],
Did you know?
The official Laravel Discord has over 45,000+ active members, making it one of the largest PHP developer communities worldwide.
Source: Laravel Discord Invite
What Is Enum Validation in Laravel?
Starting from Laravel 9.30 and now standard in Laravel 12, you can validate fields against PHP native Enums. This keeps your validation logic cleaner, type‑safe, and easier to reuse across large projects.
Define an Enum Class
namespace App\Enums;
enum TaskStatus: string
{
case Pending = 'pending';
case InProgress = 'in-progress';
case Completed = 'completed';
case Archived = 'archived';
}
Validate with Enum Rule
use Illuminate\Validation\Rules\Enum;use App\Enums\Status;
$request->validate([
'status' => ['required', new Enum(Status::class)],
]);
- Best for: status fields, user roles, payment states — anywhere consistency matters
- Key benefit: avoids magic strings; IDEs offer autocompletion & refactoring support
- Requirement: needs PHP 8.1+ (native enums)
In larger Laravel apps, you might want to keep validation out of the controller. Here’s how to use Enum validation inside a dedicated FormRequest class:
use Illuminate\Foundation\Http\FormRequest;use Illuminate\Validation\Rules\Enum;
use App\Enums\Status;
class UpdateTaskRequest extends FormRequest
{
public function rules()
{
return [
'status' => ['required', new Enum(Status::class)],
];
}
}
// Keeps your controllers cleaner and validation reusable
Developer insight: According to a 2024 Snapshot of web framework usage, Laravel scores a 56.4% “admired” rating among developers, making it one of the most respected PHP frameworks in the industry.
Advantages & Limitations of Using IN Rule
The classic IN rule stays popular in Laravel 12 because it’s quick and easy, but it’s not perfect for every use case. Here’s where it helps most, and where it can hold you back:
Advantages
- Simple, readable syntax quick to set up in any form request
- Lightweight, no need for extra classes or files
- Great for small, fixed lists like roles, categories, or payment types
- Keeps validation rules self‑contained in the request
Limitations
- Hard‑coded values can be harder to maintain as lists grow
- Lacks type safety, values treated as plain strings
- Not reusable across multiple forms or services
- Doesn’t handle dynamic or database‑driven lists
Pros & Cons of Enum Validation
Enum validation in Laravel 12 uses PHP native enums to bring structure and type safety, but it’s best suited for the right scenarios.
Pros
- Enforces strict type checking; only defined enum cases are valid
- Keeps validation logic consistent across forms, APIs, and services
- Easy to maintain — add or remove values in one place
- IDE autocompletion & refactoring support help avoid typos
- Matches well with database enum columns for cleaner schema‑code sync
Cons
- Requires PHP 8.1+ (can’t use in older projects)
- Fixed values; doesn’t support lists from database or config at runtime
- Can get verbose for very large sets (hundreds of options)
- Slightly steeper learning curve for teams new to enums
Also Read: Why Laravel is the Best PHP Framework In 2025?
IN Rule vs Enum: When to Use Each in 2025
Both IN rule and Enum validation help keep your data safe, but they fit different real‑world scenarios. Here’s a quick way to decide which makes more sense for your project:
Use the IN rule when
- You have a short, fixed list of allowed values (e.g., roles, payment types)
- You want fast, lightweight validation inside a single request
- The list rarely changes and isn’t shared across many places
Use Enum validation when
- You need strict type safety and want to avoid magic strings
- The same set of values is used in multiple forms, APIs, or services
- You want cleaner maintenance: update the enum class once, and the changes apply everywhere
Conclusion
Both IN rule and Enum validation help keep your Laravel forms, APIs, and admin panels clean and reliable, but each fits different needs. Here’s a quick way to see which works best for your project:
Best Fit for IN Rule
- Short, fixed lists of strings or numbers that won’t change often
- Quick, inline validation directly in a request or controller
- Simpler projects where type safety or reuse isn’t critical
Best Fit for Enum Validation
- Need stronger type safety and want to avoid magic strings
- The same values show up across multiple forms, APIs, or services
- Prefer centralized maintenance, IDE autocompletion, and cleaner refactoring
At the end of the day, both keep your data safe but choosing the right one makes your Laravel codebase easier to maintain and scale in 2025 and beyond.
