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Normalizers transform payloads (like models, objects, or JSON) into arrays that can be used in the data pipeline.

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Usage Example

Create a data object from an Eloquent model: 
SongData::from(Song::findOrFail($id));
The normalizer converts the model into an array before it enters the pipeline.

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Default Normalizers

Five normalizers are enabled by default:
  • ModelNormalizer - Casts Eloquent models
  • ArrayableNormalizer - Casts Arrayable objects
  • ObjectNormalizer - Casts stdObject instances
  • ArrayNormalizer - Casts arrays
  • JsonNormalizer - Casts JSON strings

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Optional Normalizer

  • FormRequestNormalizer - Normalizes form requests by calling the validated() method

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Configuration

Configure normalizers globally in config/data.php: 
'normalizers' => [
    Spatie\LaravelData\Normalizers\ModelNormalizer::class,
    Spatie\LaravelData\Normalizers\ArrayableNormalizer::class,
    Spatie\LaravelData\Normalizers\ObjectNormalizer::class,
    Spatie\LaravelData\Normalizers\ArrayNormalizer::class,
    Spatie\LaravelData\Normalizers\JsonNormalizer::class,
],

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Per-Data-Class Configuration

Override normalizers for a specific data class: 
class SongData extends Data
{
    public function __construct(
        // ...
    ) {
    }

    public static function normalizers(): array
    {
        return [
            ModelNormalizer::class,
            ArrayableNormalizer::class,
            ObjectNormalizer::class,
            ArrayNormalizer::class,
            JsonNormalizer::class,
        ];
    }
}

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Creating a Normalizer

Implement the Normalizer interface: 
interface Normalizer
{
    public function normalize(mixed $value): null|array|Normalized;
}

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Example Implementation

class ArrayableNormalizer implements Normalizer
{
    public function normalize(mixed $value): ?array
    {
        if (! $value instanceof Arrayable) {
            return null;
        }

        return $value->toArray();
    }
}

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Return Value

  • Return an array if the normalizer can normalize the payload
  • Return null if the normalizer cannot handle the payload

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Execution Order

Normalizers execute in the order defined. The first normalizer that doesn’t return null is used.
Magical creation methods always have precedence over normalizers.