Upload CSV files and import to Database using Laravel PHP

In today’s data-driven world, managing large amounts of data efficiently is crucial. Whether you are building an admin dashboard, an analytics tool, or a simple content management system, the ability to import CSV (Comma-Separated Values) files into your Laravel-based application can save time and improve productivity. This blog walks you through the complete process of uploading CSV files and importing their contents into a database using  Laravel PHP.

Why Use CSV File Upload in Laravel?

CSV files are widely used for data exchange between systems. They are lightweight, easy to create, and compatible with many tools. In Laravel, handling file uploads and processing data is seamless thanks to its robust features and support for third-party packages.

Key Benefits:

• Easy data migration

• Bulk upload of records

• Integration with spreadsheets and reports

• Support for background processing

Let’s dive into a step-by-step implementation of how to upload and import CSV data into a database using Laravel.

Step 1: Set Up Your Laravel Project

If you don’t already have a Laravel project, create one using Composer:

composer create-project --prefer-dist laravel/laravel csv-importer

Then navigate into your project directory:

cd csv-importer

Step 2: Create a Migration and Model

Assume we’re importing users. Run the following Artisan commands:

php artisan make:model User -m

Edit the migration file in database/migrations/xxxx_xx_xx_create_users_table.php:

public function up() {     Schema::create('users', function (Blueprint $table) {         $table->id();         $table->string('name');         $table->string('email')->unique();         $table->timestamps();     }); }

Step 3: Create the File Upload Form

Create a route and view to upload the CSV file.

In routes/web.php:

use App\Http\Controllers\CSVImportController;   Route::get('/upload-csv', [CSVImportController::class, 'showForm'])->name('csv.form'); Route::post('/upload-csv', [CSVImportController::class, 'uploadCSV'])->name('csv.upload');

Create a controller:

php artisan make:controller CSVImportController

In resources/views/csv_form.blade.php:

Step 4: Handle the File Upload and Data Import

Edit CSVImportController.php:

namespace App\Http\Controllers; use Illuminate\Http\Request; use App\Models\User; class CSVImportController extends Controller {     public function showForm()     {         return view('csv_form');     }     public function uploadCSV(Request $request)     {         $request->validate([             'csv_file' => 'required|file|mimes:csv,txt'         ]);         $file = fopen($request->file('csv_file'), 'r');         $firstline = true;         while (($data = fgetcsv($file, 1000, ',')) !== FALSE) {             if (!$firstline) {                 User::create([                     'name' => $data[0],                     'email' => $data[1],                 ]);             }             $firstline = false;         }         fclose($file);         return redirect()->back()->with('success', 'CSV Data Imported Successfully.');     } }

Make sure User.php has fillable properties defined:

protected $fillable = ['name', 'email'];

Step 5: Test the CSV Import

Create a sample users.csv file:

name,email John Doe,john@example.com Jane Smith,jane@example.com

1. Visit http://localhost:8000/upload-csv

2. Upload the CSV file

3. Check your database; users should be imported!

Step 6: Error Handling and Validation

To avoid issues with duplicate or invalid data, improve validation before inserting:

if (filter_var($data[1], FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL)) {     if (!User::where('email', $data[1])->exists()) {         User::create([             'name' => $data[0],             'email' => $data[1],         ]);     } }

Step 7: Use Laravel Excel for Large Files (Optional)

If your CSV files are large or you need advanced features, use Laravel Excel:

Install via Composer:

composer require maatwebsite/excel

Create an Import Class:

php artisan make:import UsersImport --model=User

In app/Imports/UsersImport.php:

namespace App\Imports; use App\Models\User; use Maatwebsite\Excel\Concerns\ToModel; class UsersImport implements ToModel {     public function model(array $row)     {         return new User([             'name'  => $row[0],             'email' => $row[1],         ]);     } }

Update Controller:

use App\Imports\UsersImport; use Maatwebsite\Excel\Facades\Excel; public function uploadCSV(Request $request) {     $request->validate([         'csv_file' => 'required|file|mimes:csv,txt,xlsx'     ]);     Excel::import(new UsersImport, $request->file('csv_file'));     return back()->with('success', 'Data Imported Successfully using Laravel Excel.'); }

Final Thoughts

Uploading CSV files and importing them into the database is a common requirement in many Laravel applications. Whether it's user data, product lists, or any bulk data entry scenario, Laravel provides powerful tools and clean syntax to make it easy.

If you're working with small to medium datasets, the built-in PHP functions like fgetcsv() work well. For more advanced or large-scale imports, Laravel Excel offers a full-featured solution including chunking, queueing, and validation.

Now you can try this code in your application to read CSV files and import to the database the same method you can use in other PHP related frameworks also.

FAQ

1) How do I import a CSV file into a Laravel database?

You can import a CSV in Laravel by reading the file using fgetcsv(), then looping through its rows and inserting data using Eloquent models.

2) What is the best way to upload and read CSV files in Laravel?

Use a file upload form, validate the file type, read it using PHP functions like fopen() and fgetcsv(), then insert rows into the database.

3) How can I validate a CSV file in Laravel?

Use Laravel’s file validation rule:
'csv_file' => 'required|mimes:csv,txt|max:2048'
This ensures only valid CSV or TXT files are accepted.

4) Can I use Laravel Excel to import CSV files?

Yes, Laravel Excel (maatwebsite/excel) is a powerful package that supports importing and exporting CSV or Excel files efficiently with queue support.

5) Why is my CSV import not working in Laravel?

Common issues include wrong file format, incorrect CSV headers, model fillable settings, or file not readable by PHP.

6) Is it safe to upload CSV files to Laravel?

Yes, if you validate the file type, sanitize data, limit file size, and prevent script execution from uploaded files, it is secure.

7) How do I skip the header row while reading a CSV file in Laravel?

Use fgetcsv($file) once before the loop to skip the header row.