---
title: "Fluent form builder — Forms for Laravel | Roundly"
description: "Define a whole form — groups and fields — in one transactional call with Forms::define(), typed shortcuts and custom messages."
url: https://roundly-consulting.com/open-source/docs/forms-for-laravel/form-builder
language: en
---

[All packages](https://roundly-consulting.com/open-source.md)

[Forms for Laravel](https://roundly-consulting.com/open-source/docs/forms-for-laravel.md)

# Fluent form builder

The Forms facade exposes a fluent builder that defines a whole form — groups and fields — in one transactional call, auto-assigning each order by declaration sequence:

```php
use RoundlyConsulting\Forms\Facades\Forms;
use RoundlyConsulting\Forms\GroupBuilder;

$form = Forms::define('contact', 'Contact us')
    ->public()
    ->expiresAt(now()->addDays(30))
    ->group('details', 'Your details', function (GroupBuilder $g): void {
        $g->field('name', 'Name')->rules(['required', 'string'])->help('Full name');
        $g->field('email', 'Email')->type('email')->rules(['required', 'email']);
    })
    ->group('message', 'Message', function (GroupBuilder $g): void {
        $g->field('body', 'Message')->type('textarea')->rules(['required']);
    })
    ->create(); // returns the Form, persists the structure, dispatches FormCreated
```

On the form builder: public(bool $public = true), expiresAt(CarbonInterface), group($key, $name, $callback) and the terminal create(). Inside the callback, GroupBuilder::field($key, $name) returns a FieldBuilder. New fields default to the text type.

## Typed field shortcuts

Thin sugar over type()/rules()/options() for the common field kinds:

```php
$g->field('email', 'Email')->email()->required();
$g->field('bio', 'Bio')->textarea();
$g->field('terms', 'Terms')->checkbox();      // type=checkbox, rule=boolean
$g->field('age', 'Age')->number();            // type=number, rule=numeric; whole numbers (3.5 fails)
$g->field('dob', 'DOB')->date();              // type=date, rule=date
$g->field('role', 'Role')->select(['a' => 'A', 'b' => 'B']);
$g->field('avatar', 'Avatar')->file();        // type=file (media-backed upload)
```

## Every field builder method

| Method | Effect |
| --- | --- |
| `type(string)` | Sets the field type (default text). |
| `help(string)` | Help text shown with the field. |
| `options(array)` | Choice options, e.g. \['CZ' => 'Czechia'\]. |
| `rules(array, array $messages = [])` | Laravel validation rules, plus optional per-rule messages. |
| `messages(array)` | Per-rule messages, merged with existing ones. |
| `required()` | Adds the required rule. |
| `autofill(string)` | An Autofill class name or a literal default. |
| `visibleWhen(field, value, op)` | Show the field only when the condition matches; field is a key or group\_key.field\_key. |
| `requiredWhen(field, value, op)` | Show and require the field only when the condition matches. |
| `order(int)` | Override the auto-assigned position — 0 included. |
| `email()` | type email + email rule. |
| `textarea()` | type textarea. |
| `checkbox()` | type checkbox + boolean rule. |
| `number()` | type number + numeric rule; whole numbers only (3.5 fails). |
| `date()` | type date + date rule. |
| `select(array)` | type select + options. |
| `file()` | type file — a media-backed upload. |

## Custom validation messages

Pass per-field messages as the second argument to rules(), or via messages(). They’re stored on the field and applied by the validator, keyed by rule name:

```php
$g->field('email', 'Email')->rules(['required', 'email'], [
    'required' => 'We really need your email.',
]);

// or add messages separately — they merge with any passed to rules()
$g->field('age', 'Age')
    ->number()
    ->required()
    ->messages(['numeric' => 'Please enter your age as a number.']);
```

## Overriding order

Groups and fields are ordered by declaration. Override a position with ->order(n) on a group (inside its callback) or on a field — ->order(0) included:

```php
Forms::define('survey', 'Survey')
    ->group('intro', 'Introduction', function (GroupBuilder $g): void {
        $g->order(10);                                    // override the group's position
        $g->field('nps', 'How likely are you to recommend us?')
            ->number()
            ->order(5);                                   // override the field's position
        $g->field('name', 'Name')->order(0);              // an explicit 0 is kept
    })
    ->create();
```

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