Database Seeding

Home Q&A Database Seeding

Database seeding is a simple way to add data into your database. It is especially useful during development where you need to populate the database with sample data that you can develop against, but it is not limited to that. Seeders can contain static data that you don’t want to include in a migration, like countries, or geo-coding tables, event or setting information, and more.

Database Seeders

Database seeders are simple classes that must have a run() method, and extend CodeIgniter\Database\Seeder. Within the run() the class can create any form of data that it needs to. It has access to the database connection and the forge through $this->db and $this->forge, respectively. Seed files must be stored within the app/Database/Seeds directory. The name of the file must match the name of the class

 'darth',
            'email'    => 'darth@theempire.com',
        ];

        // Simple Queries
        $this->db->query('INSERT INTO users (username, email) VALUES(:username:, :email:)', $data);

        // Using Query Builder
        $this->db->table('users')->insert($data);
    }
}

Nesting Seeders

Seeders can call other seeders, with the call() method. This allows you to easily organize a central seeder, but organize the tasks into separate seeder files:

call('UserSeeder');
        $this->call('CountrySeeder');
        $this->call('JobSeeder');
    }
}

You can also use a fully-qualified class name in the call() method, allowing you to keep your seeders anywhere the autoloader can find them. This is great for more modular code bases:

call('UserSeeder');
        $this->call('My\Database\Seeds\CountrySeeder');
    }
}

Using Seeders

You can grab a copy of the main seeder through the database config class:

call('TestSeeder');

Command Line Seeding

You can also seed data from the command line, as part of the Migrations CLI tools, if you don’t want to create a dedicated controller:

php spark db:seed TestSeeder

Creating Seeder Files

Using the command line, you can easily generate seed files:

php spark make:seeder user --suffix

The above command outputs UserSeeder.php file located at app/Database/Seeds directory.

You can supply the root namespace where the seed file will be stored by supplying the --namespace option:

For Unix:

php spark make:seeder MySeeder --namespace Acme\\Blog

For Windows:

php spark make:seeder MySeeder --namespace Acme\Blog

If Acme\Blog is mapped to app/Blog directory, then this command will generate MySeeder.php at app/Blog/Database/Seeds directory.

Supplying the --force option will overwrite existing files in destination.

Need Help With CodeIgniter Development?

Work with our skilled CodeIgniter developers to accelerate your project and boost its performance.

Support On Demand!

Related Q & A

Services

Mobile Application Development

Ecommerce Development

Microsoft App Development

Open Source Development

Content Management System

Custom Software Development

Our Expertise

Travel Portal Devlopment

Event Management Software

Transport and Logistics software

Cloud Computing

Custom CRM Software Development

Enterprise Mobility Solutions

Education / E-Learning

Startup Consulting

Booking Widgets

Hire Developers

Hire Web Designer

Hire Web Developers

Hire ASP.NET Developers

Hire ASP.Net Core Developers

Hire WordPress Developers

Hire E-Commerce Developers

Hire Magento Developers

Hire ReactJS Developers

Hire Angular JS Developers

Hire NodeJS Developers

Hire React Native Developers

Technologies

Contact For Sales

sejal@niotechone.com

sales@niotechone.com

Sales +91 9925 66 2323

Sales +91 9925 66 8383

Contact For Careers

hr@niotechone.com

HR +91 99244 08252

India

805, 1107, 1108-Rk Empire, Near Mavdi Circle, Rajkot-360004

Canada

Abbotsford, BC

Copyright © 2025 NioTechOne Software Solution Pvt. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.