Laravel 12.22+: Fix SQLite REGEXP Function Issue

Oct 31, 2025 by SLV Team 49 views

Laravel SQLite REGEXP Function Fails After v12.22 Upgrade

Hey folks! Experiencing a headache with your Laravel SQLite setup after upgrading to version 12.22 or later? Specifically, is your custom REGEXP function suddenly throwing a "no such function" error? You're not alone! Let's dive into why this is happening and how to tackle it.

The Problem: `sqliteCreateFunction` and Laravel 12.22+

Before we start, let's understand the context. SQLite, by default, doesn't support the REGEXP function for regular expression matching. To get around this, Laravel allows you to define custom functions using sqliteCreateFunction. This was working perfectly fine in Laravel versions up to 12.21. However, after upgrading to 12.22 or any subsequent version, your application might start throwing an error like this:

SQLSTATE[HY000]: General error: 1 no such function: REGEXP (Connection: sqlite, SQL: select count(*) as aggregate from "user" where "brand_id" REGEXP [0-9]+ and "user"."deleted_at" is null

This error indicates that SQLite can no longer find the REGEXP function you defined, even though you've set it up in your AppServiceProvider (or similar). So, what changed in Laravel 12.22 that caused this?

Code Example (AppServiceProvider):

Here’s the typical code snippet used to define the custom REGEXP function:

// AppServiceProvider.php
public function register(): void
{
    if (DB::Connection() instanceof SQLiteConnection) {
        DB::connection()->getPdo()->sqliteCreateFunction('REGEXP', function ($pattern, $value) {
            mb_regex_encoding('UTF-8');

            $value = str_replace('[[:space:]]', '\s', $value);

            // workaround for escaping plus sign in regex pattern
            $pattern = str_replace('\\+', '\+', $pattern);

            return (false !== mb_ereg($pattern, $value)) ? 1 : 0;
        });
    }
}

Sample Query:

And here’s an example query that would now fail:

$numericBrandCount = User::where('brand_id', 'REGEXP', '[0-9]+')->count();

Why Did It Break?

While the exact cause requires digging into the Laravel framework's changes between these versions, the core issue is that the way custom SQLite functions are registered or handled has been altered. This might be due to changes in the database connection management, PDO handling, or even internal event dispatching related to database queries.

Understanding the Impact:

The impact of this issue can be significant, especially if your application relies heavily on regular expressions within SQLite queries. Imagine you are working on a large e-commerce platform where you need to filter products based on complex patterns in their descriptions or names. Or perhaps you are developing a data analysis tool that uses regular expressions to extract specific information from text fields in your database. In these scenarios, the inability to use the REGEXP function can severely limit your ability to perform these tasks efficiently.

Furthermore, this issue can affect the maintainability and scalability of your application. If you have existing code that relies on the REGEXP function, you will need to refactor it to use alternative methods, which can be time-consuming and error-prone. Additionally, if you are working in a team, this issue can lead to confusion and frustration, as developers may not be aware of the underlying cause of the problem.

Therefore, it is essential to address this issue promptly and effectively. By understanding the root cause of the problem and implementing the appropriate solution, you can ensure that your application continues to function correctly and that you can continue to leverage the power of regular expressions in your SQLite queries.

Steps to Reproduce

Install Laravel version 12.22.0 or higher.
Define a SQLite custom function for REGEXP using sqliteCreateFunction in the register method of AppServiceProvider.
Write a query that uses a REGEX expression.
Run the query against a sqlite database connection.
Observe the no such function error.

Potential Solutions and Workarounds

While a definitive fix might require a deeper dive into Laravel's core, here are a few potential solutions and workarounds you can try:

Downgrade Laravel: If you're not heavily reliant on features introduced in 12.22+, the quickest solution is to downgrade back to 12.21. This will restore the previous behavior and allow your custom REGEXP function to work as expected.

Re-register the Function on Each Connection: Instead of registering the function only in the register method, try re-registering it every time a new database connection is established. You can achieve this by using the DB::connection()->beforeExecuting() method:

// AppServiceProvider.php
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;

public function boot(): void
{
    DB::connection()->beforeExecuting(function ($connection, $query, $bindings) {
        if ($connection instanceof \Illuminate\Database\SQLiteConnection) {
            $connection->getPdo()->sqliteCreateFunction('REGEXP', function ($pattern, $value) {
                mb_regex_encoding('UTF-8');

                $value = str_replace('[[:space:]]', '\s', $value);

                // workaround for escaping plus sign in regex pattern
                $pattern = str_replace('\\+', '\+', $pattern);

                return (false !== mb_ereg($pattern, $value)) ? 1 : 0;
            });
        }
    });
}

This ensures that the REGEXP function is available for each query executed on the SQLite connection.

Use a Raw Query with a WHERE Clause: As a workaround, you can use a raw query and perform the regular expression matching directly within the WHERE clause of your SQL query. This approach involves using the DB::raw() method to inject a raw SQL expression into your query. Although this method may require more manual effort, it can be effective in situations where the built-in REGEXP function is unavailable.
```
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;

$numericBrandCount = User::where(DB::raw('brand_id'), 'REGEXP', '[0-9]+')->count();
```
Implement REGEXP in PHP: Instead of relying on SQLite's function, you can fetch the data and then filter it in PHP using preg_match. While less efficient for large datasets, it avoids the database issue altogether.
```
$users = User::all();
$numericBrandCount = 0;
foreach ($users as $user) {
    if (preg_match('/^[0-9]+$/', $user->brand_id)) {
        $numericBrandCount++;
    }
}
```
Performance considerations:

It's important to note that performing regular expression matching in PHP can be less efficient than doing it directly in the database, especially for large datasets. This is because PHP needs to load all the data from the database into memory and then iterate over it to perform the matching. In contrast, when the regular expression matching is done in the database, the database server can optimize the query and use indexes to speed up the process. Therefore, it's generally recommended to perform regular expression matching in the database whenever possible, especially when dealing with large datasets.

However, in some cases, performing regular expression matching in PHP may be the only option, such as when the database does not support regular expressions or when the regular expressions are too complex to be expressed in SQL. In these cases, it's important to optimize the PHP code as much as possible to minimize the performance impact. This can involve using more efficient regular expression engines, caching the results of the regular expression matching, and avoiding unnecessary data loading.
Contribute to Laravel: If you have the time and expertise, investigate the changes in Laravel 12.22+ that might be causing this issue. Once you identify the root cause, you can submit a pull request with a fix.

Digging Deeper and Contributing

If you're feeling adventurous and want to contribute to the Laravel community, here's how you can dig deeper and potentially provide a more permanent solution:

Examine the Laravel Changelog: Review the changelog for Laravel versions between 12.21 and 12.22. Look for any changes related to database connections, SQLite, PDO, or event handling that might affect custom function registration.
Debug the Framework: Clone the Laravel repository and set up a local development environment. Use debugging tools to step through the code and identify where the sqliteCreateFunction call is failing or being overridden.
Create a Test Case: Write a failing test case that reproduces the issue. This will help ensure that any proposed solution actually fixes the problem and doesn't introduce new issues.
Submit a Pull Request: Once you've identified the root cause and have a working solution, submit a pull request to the Laravel repository. Be sure to include a detailed explanation of the issue and your proposed fix.

Conclusion

The sqliteCreateFunction issue in Laravel 12.22+ can be a frustrating problem, but with the workarounds and potential solutions discussed above, you should be able to get your application back on track. Remember to choose the solution that best fits your needs and consider contributing to the Laravel community by investigating the root cause and submitting a fix. Happy coding, and let's hope this gets resolved soon!

Final Thoughts:

In conclusion, while the sqliteCreateFunction issue in Laravel 12.22+ can be a significant obstacle, it is not insurmountable. By understanding the root cause of the problem and implementing the appropriate solution, you can ensure that your application continues to function correctly and that you can continue to leverage the power of regular expressions in your SQLite queries. Whether you choose to downgrade Laravel, re-register the function on each connection, use a raw query with a WHERE clause, implement REGEXP in PHP, or contribute to Laravel, the key is to take proactive steps to address the issue and maintain the functionality of your application. And remember, the Laravel community is always there to support you, so don't hesitate to reach out for help if you need it. Good luck, and happy coding!