Query Primary Keys Dynamically with whereKey() and whereKeyNot()

Use whereKey() and whereKeyNot() to query model primary keys automatically without hardcoding 'id' column names.

Models with custom primary keys (such as protected $primaryKey = 'uuid'; or 'account_id') can break queries if you hardcode where('id', $key) or whereIn('id', $keys).

whereKey() and whereKeyNot() automatically query the model's configured primary key column.

Querying by Single Key or Array of Keys

use App\Models\Order;

// Resolves automatically to: WHERE order_id = 42
$order = Order::whereKey(42)->first();

// Resolves automatically to: WHERE order_id IN (1, 2, 3)
$orders = Order::whereKey([1, 2, 3])->get();

Excluding Primary Keys with whereKeyNot()

// Find all active users except the current authenticated user
$otherUsers = User::whereKeyNot(auth()->id())
    ->where('is_active', true)
    ->get();

Summary

  • Automatically respects custom $primaryKey model configurations.
  • Accepts single IDs, arrays of IDs, or Eloquent collections.
  • whereKeyNot() cleanly excludes primary key matches.