Laravel Migration Change Datatype Varchar to Text Example

Hello Dev,

This post is focused on laravel migration change varchar to text. This article will give you a simple example of how to change varchar to text in laravel migration. This example will help you laravel migration change datatype varchar to text. I explained simply about laravel migration update data type varchar to text . Let's see below example laravel migration change varchar to text.

Laravel migration provides way to add column name and datatype. But if you need to change column datatype then you have to install doctrine/dbal package to change datatype. In this example i will show you two ways to change datatype varchar to text in laravel migration.

In this example, i will change title column datatype varchar(255) to text.

So, let's see the simple example of laravel migration change varchar to text.

Install doctrine/dbal: optional

First of all we need to install "doctrine/dbal" composer package. This package allow to use change() method to update datatype using laravel migration.

composer require doctrine/dbal

Default Created Table

Here, you will see the default created table screenshot.

Way 1: Create Migration

Create new migration using following command:

php artisan make:migration change_datatype_column

Now, You can update it as like the bellow:

database/migrations/migration_name.php

<?php
   
use Illuminate\Database\Migrations\Migration;
use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema;
    
return new class extends Migration
{
    /**
     * Run the migrations.
     */
    public function up(): void
    {
        Schema::table('posts', function (Blueprint $table) {
            $table->text('title')->change();
        });
    }
  
    /**
     * Reverse the migrations.
     */
    public function down(): void
    {
        Schema::table('posts', function (Blueprint $table) {
              
        });
    }
};

Now, you are ready to run migration command:

php artisan migrate

You will see the layout as like the below:

Way 2: Create Migration

Create new migration using following command:

php artisan make:migration change_datatype_column

Now, You can update it as like the bellow:

database/migrations/migration_name.php

<?php
   
use Illuminate\Database\Migrations\Migration;
use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema;
    
return new class extends Migration
{
    /**
     * Run the migrations.
     */
    public function up(): void
    {
        \DB::statement('ALTER TABLE `posts` CHANGE `title` `title` TEXT CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_unicode_ci NOT NULL;');
    }
  
    /**
     * Reverse the migrations.
     */
    public function down(): void
    {
        Schema::table('posts', function (Blueprint $table) {
              
        });
    }
};

Now, you are ready to run migration command:

php artisan migrate

I hope it can help you...