The Category functionality is now added

This blog now has Category functionality implemented.

1. Create new Category Model

php artisan make:model Category -mc

2. Update the migration file to create new tables

 Schema::create('category_post', function (Blueprint $table) {
            $table->id();
            $table->foreignIdFor(Post::class)->constrained()->onDelete('cascade');
            $table->foreignIdFor(Category::class)->constrained()->onDelete('cascade');
            $table->timestamps();
        });

Schema::create('categories', function (Blueprint $table) {
            $table->id();
            $table->string('name')
            $table->timestamps();
        });

3. Migrate new tables

php artisan migrate

4. Define relationship in Post Model

public function categories(): BelongsToMany
    {
        return $this->belongsToMany(Category::class);
    }

5. Define relationship in Category Model

public function posts(): BelongsToMany
    {
        return $this->belongsToMany(Post::class);
    }

Update the PostController to pass all the Categories to the create view

public function create(Post $post) {
        $categories = Category::orderBy('name')->get();
        return view('post.create', compact('categories'));
    }

6. Add Category Selection and Add new Category to the create view

 <!-- Categories Section -->
         <div class="mb-4">
          <label class="block text-gray-700 font-medium mb-2">Categories</label>

          <!-- Existing Categories - With Empty State -->
          @if(count($categories) > 0)
              <div class="mb-3">
                  <p class="text-sm text-gray-600 mb-2">Select existing categories:</p>
                  <div class="max-h-40 overflow-y-auto p-3 border border-gray-300 rounded-lg">
                    @foreach ($categories as $category )
                    <input type="checkbox" id="{{ $category->id }}" name="categories[]" value="{{ $category->id }}" 
                    {{ (is_array(old('categories')) &&  in_array($category->id, old('categories'))) ? 'checked' : '' }} >
                    <label for="{{ $category->id }}">{{ $category->name }}</label><br>
                  @endforeach
                  </div>
              </div>
          @endif

          <!-- Add New Categories -->
          <div class="{{ count($categories) == 0 ? 'mt-0' : 'mt-4' }}">
              <p class="text-sm text-gray-600 mb-2">
                  @if(count($categories) == 0)
                      No categories exist yet. Create new categories (comma separated):
                  @else
                      Add new categories (comma separated):
                  @endif
              </p>
              <input type="text" id="new_categories" name="new_categories" value="{{ old('new_categories') }}"
                  class="w-full px-4 py-2 border border-gray-300 rounded-lg focus:ring-2 focus:ring-blue-500 focus:outline-none"
                  placeholder="Technology, Programming, Laravel...">
              <p class="text-xs text-gray-500 mt-1">Separate multiple categories with commas</p>
              <x-form-error name="new_categories"></x-form-error>
          </div>
      </div>

8. Update the store function in the PostController to save the categories assigned to post

public function store() {
        $validatedAttrs = request()->validate([
            'title' => 'required|string|max:255',
            'content' => 'required|string|min:20',
            'categories' => 'array|nullable',
            'new_categories' => 'string|nullable'
        ]);

        // Add the authenticated user's ID
        $validatedAttrs['user_id'] = Auth::id();
        //dd($validatedAttrs);
        // Create post using mass assignment
        $post = Post::create($validatedAttrs);

         // Attach existing categories
        if (!empty($validatedAttrs['categories'])) {
            $post->categories()->attach($validatedAttrs['categories']);
        }

        if (!empty($validatedAttrs['new_categories'])) {
            $categoryNames = array_map('trim', explode(',',$validatedAttrs['new_categories']));
            foreach ($categoryNames as $categoryName) {
                        // Check if category already exists or create it
                        $category = Category::firstOrCreate(['name' => $categoryName]);

                        //Attach to post if not already attached
                        if (!$post->categories->contains($category->id)) {
                            $post->categories()->attach($category->id);
                        }

            }
        }

        return redirect()->route('blog')->with('success', 'Post created successfully!');

    }

9. Repeat the same for the edit view and update view

10. Done

Next: Implement the index view for each Category