Laravel 4: how to run a raw SQL?

Question

I want to rename a table in Laravel 4, but don\'t know how to do that.

The SQL is alter table photos rename to images. If there is an Eloquent solution,

Answer 1

The best way to do this I have found so far it to side step Laravel and execute the query directly using the Pdo object.

Example

DB::connection()->getPdo()->exec( $sql );

I usually find it faster and more efficient for a one time query to simply open my database query tool and type the query with full syntax checking then execute it directly.

This becomes essential if you have to work with stored procedures or need to use any database functions

Example 2 setting created_at to a the value you need it to be and side steeping any carbon funkiness

$sql = 'UPDATE my_table SET updated_at = FROM_UNIXTIME(nonce) WHERE id = ' . strval($this->id);
DB::statement($sql);

I found this worked in a controller but not in a migration