seed:import

Import seed data from JSON files into your database.

Signature

php artisan seed:import {--seeder=}

Options

--seeder

Specify a single seeder to import (by class name or without namespace).

php artisan seed:import --seeder=UserSeeder
php artisan seed:import --seeder=Database\\Seeders\\UserSeeder

If not provided and auto_discover is enabled, all seeders are imported.

Usage Examples

Import a Single Seeder

php artisan seed:import --seeder=UserSeeder

Output:

Importing UserSeeder...
Importing from storage/app/private/seeders/users.json
Created: 3, Updated: 2
UserSeeder imported successfully.

Import All Seeders

When auto_discover is enabled, import all seeders in dependency order:

php artisan seed:import

Output:

Discovering exportable seeders...
Importing TenantSeeder...
Importing from storage/app/private/seeders/tenants.json
Created: 2, Updated: 0
Importing RoleSeeder...
Importing from storage/app/private/seeders/roles.json
Created: 5, Updated: 0
Importing UserSeeder...
Importing from storage/app/private/seeders/users.json
Created: 8, Updated: 4
All seeders imported successfully.

Dependency Ordering

The command respects seeder dependencies via topological sort.

If UserSeeder depends on RoleSeeder:

protected array $dependencies = [RoleSeeder::class];

Running php artisan seed:import imports seeders in the correct order:

Importing RoleSeeder...
Importing UserSeeder...

This prevents foreign key constraint violations.

Circular Dependency Detection

If seeder dependencies form a cycle, the command fails:

Error: Circular dependency detected between seeders

Fix circular dependencies in your seeder classes.

Created vs Updated Count

The output shows how many records were created and how many were updated:

Created: 3, Updated: 2

• Created — New records inserted into the database
• Updated — Existing records updated based on $uniqueBy columns

Records are matched using the updateOrCreate() method with columns from $uniqueBy.

See Importing Data for details on the upsert logic.

Missing Files

If a JSON file is missing, the import fails with an error:

Error: File not found: storage/app/private/seeders/users.json

Create the JSON file before running import, or use seed:export to generate it from your database.

Multiple Models

If a seeder handles multiple models:

protected array $jsonFilename = ['users.json', 'profiles.json'];
protected array $modelClass = [User::class, Profile::class];

Both JSON files are imported in order:

Importing UserSeeder...
Importing from storage/app/private/seeders/users.json
Created: 5, Updated: 0
Importing from storage/app/private/seeders/profiles.json
Created: 5, Updated: 0
UserSeeder imported successfully.

Upsert Logic

Records are imported using updateOrCreate() with the columns specified in $uniqueBy:

For $uniqueBy = 'email':

User::updateOrCreate(
    ['email' => $record['email']],
    [/* other fields */]
);

If a user with that email exists, it's updated. If not, a new user is created.

For composite keys ($uniqueBy = ['tenant_id', 'email']):

User::updateOrCreate(
    ['tenant_id' => $record['tenant_id'], 'email' => $record['email']],
    [/* other fields */]
);

See Importing Data for complete examples.

Standard Seeding

You can also use Laravel's standard seeding to import data:

php artisan db:seed --class=UserSeeder

This runs the seeder's run() method, which calls importData().

Workflow Examples

Seed a Fresh Database

php artisan migrate
php artisan seed:import

Reset and Reseed

php artisan migrate:fresh
php artisan seed:import

Update Existing Data

After exporting and modifying JSON files:

php artisan seed:import --seeder=UserSeeder

Existing records (matched by $uniqueBy columns) are updated. New records are created.

Exit Codes

• 0 — Import successful
• 1 — Import failed (missing file, seeder not found, circular dependency, database error, etc.)

Troubleshooting

"File not found" Error

Error: File not found: storage/app/private/seeders/users.json

Create the JSON file:

php artisan seed:export --seeder=UserSeeder

Or create it manually in the configured storage path.

"Circular dependency" Error

Error: Circular dependency detected between seeders

Check your seeder $dependencies for cycles:

// UserSeeder
protected array $dependencies = [RoleSeeder::class];

// RoleSeeder
protected array $dependencies = [UserSeeder::class]; // CIRCULAR!

Remove the circular reference.

Foreign Key Constraint Errors

If imports fail with foreign key errors, check seeder dependencies:

// UserSeeder should depend on RoleSeeder
protected array $dependencies = [RoleSeeder::class];

Ensure seeders are ordered so dependencies are imported first.

Next Steps

• seed:export — Generate JSON from your database
• Importing Data — Understand the upsert logic
• Seeder Dependencies — Manage complex dependencies