Laravel: Get Array of IDs with pluck() or modelKeys() | Mohamed Said [Skip to content](#main) [ ![](https://cdn.msaied.com/01KT78WE565VEMM3PSNQAAB0MH.png) Mohamed SaidLaravel Backend Engineer ](https://www.msaied.com/public) - [Home](https://www.msaied.com/public) - [Projects](https://www.msaied.com/public/projects) - [Articles](https://www.msaied.com/public/articles) - [Certificates](https://www.msaied.com/public/certificates) - [About](https://www.msaied.com/public#about) [ Contact](https://www.msaied.com/public#contact) Menu Menu ---- Close - [HomeStart here](https://www.msaied.com/public) - [ProjectsCase studies](https://www.msaied.com/public/projects) - [ArticlesEngineering notes](https://www.msaied.com/public/articles) - [CertificatesCredentials](https://www.msaied.com/public/certificates) - [AboutHow I work](https://www.msaied.com/public#about) - [ContactGet in touch](https://www.msaied.com/public#contact) [Start a conversation](https://www.msaied.com/public#contact) [WhatsApp](https://wa.me/201094619204) [Email](mailto:hello@msaied.com) 1. [Home](https://www.msaied.com/public) 2. / 3. [Articles](https://www.msaied.com/public/articles) 4. / 5. [Laravel](https://www.msaied.com/public/articles?category=laravel) 6. / 7. Get Array of IDs from Eloquent Collection: pluck() or modelKeys() [Laravel](https://www.msaied.com/public/articles?category=laravel) [Tips & Tricks](https://www.msaied.com/public/articles?category=tips-tricks) Get Array of IDs from Eloquent Collection: pluck() or modelKeys() ================================================================== Discover two efficient methods, `pluck()` and `modelKeys()`, to extract arrays of IDs from Laravel Eloquent collections. Learn when to use each for optimal performance and code clarity. ![](https://cdn.msaied.com/01M22N44A70A5MC2S599JP0MPH.webp) [Mohamed Said](https://www.msaied.com/public#person) Published 24 Aug 2022 · Updated 11 Jun 2026 · 3 min read ShareCopy linkCopied ![Get Array of IDs from Eloquent Collection: pluck() or modelKeys()](https://cdn.msaied.com/96/d7f17428bf750e57ce14033f6a5aa249.png) On this page +1. [Using pluck()](#using-codepluckcode) 2. [Introducing modelKeys()](#introducing-codemodelkeyscode) 3. [When to Use Which?](#when-to-use-which) 4. [Key Takeaways:](#key-takeaways) When working with Laravel Eloquent, a common task is to retrieve a collection of records and then extract just their primary keys into an array. This is particularly useful when dealing with relationships, such as fetching all permission IDs associated with a specific role. Laravel provides elegant solutions for this, with two primary methods standing out: `pluck()` and `modelKeys()`. Using `pluck()` --------------- The `pluck()` method is a widely recognized and versatile tool within Laravel collections. It allows you to retrieve a list of values for a specified key from each item in the collection. For instance, if you have a `Role` model that `hasMany` `Permission` models, you can easily get an array of permission IDs like this: ```php // Assuming $role is an instance of your Role model $permissionIDs = $role->permissions->pluck('id'); ``` This code snippet iterates through the `permissions` collection associated with the `$role` and extracts the value of the `id` key from each permission model, returning them as a simple PHP array. The `pluck()` method is also available directly on the Eloquent Query Builder, allowing you to fetch only the IDs from the database without retrieving the entire model objects: ```php $allPermissionIDs = Permission::pluck('id'); ``` This approach is highly efficient as it only selects the `id` column from the database. Introducing `modelKeys()` ------------------------- Laravel also offers a more specialized method called `modelKeys()`. This method is specifically designed to retrieve an array of the primary keys from an Eloquent Collection. Its official description is concise: "Get the array of primary keys." Here's how you would use it in the same scenario: ```php // Assuming $role is an instance of your Role model $permissionIDs = $role->permissions->modelKeys(); ``` Interestingly, `modelKeys()` often results in the same character count as `pluck('id')`, making it a neat alternative. A key distinction is that `modelKeys()` is a method of the `Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Collection` class, not the Eloquent model itself. This means you cannot directly call `modelKeys()` on a Query Builder instance: ```php // This will result in an error: // "Call to undefined method App\Models\Permission::modelKeys()" $allPermissions = Permission::modelKeys(); ``` To use `modelKeys()` when you need all primary keys from a table, you must first retrieve all the models into a collection: ```php $allPermissions = Permission::all()->modelKeys(); ``` However, be mindful of potential performance implications if you are fetching all records from a very large table. In such cases, using `pluck('id')` directly on the Query Builder is generally more performant. When to Use Which? ------------------ - **`pluck()`**: Use this method when you need to extract values for a specific key (not necessarily the primary key) from a collection, or when you want to fetch only primary keys directly from the database query builder for efficiency. - **`modelKeys()`**: Use this method when you already have an Eloquent Collection and want to specifically retrieve an array of its primary keys. It's a clear and semantic way to express your intent. Both methods are valuable tools in a Laravel developer's arsenal, offering efficient ways to manipulate and extract data from Eloquent collections. ### Key Takeaways: - `pluck('id')` is versatile and can be used on Query Builders and Collections to extract values by key. - `modelKeys()` is specifically for Eloquent Collections and retrieves an array of primary keys. - For fetching all primary keys from a large table, `Permission::pluck('id')` is generally more performant than `Permission::all()->modelKeys()`. Source: [Get Array of IDs from Eloquent Collection: pluck() or modelKeys()](https://laraveldaily.com/post/eloquent-get-array-of-ids-from-collection-pluck-or-modelkeys) - [laravel](https://www.msaied.com/public/articles?search=laravel) - [eloquent](https://www.msaied.com/public/articles?search=eloquent) - [php](https://www.msaied.com/public/articles?search=php) - [collection](https://www.msaied.com/public/articles?search=collection) - [pluck](https://www.msaied.com/public/articles?search=pluck) - [modelKeys](https://www.msaied.com/public/articles?search=modelKeys) Frequently asked questions --------------------------- What is the difference between `pluck()` and `modelKeys()` in Laravel?`pluck()` is a more general method that can extract values for any specified key from a collection or directly from a query builder. `modelKeys()` is specifically designed for Eloquent Collections and retrieves an array of their primary keys. Can I use `modelKeys()` directly on an Eloquent Query Builder?No, `modelKeys()` is a method of the `Illuminate\\Database\\Eloquent\\Collection` class. You cannot call it directly on a Query Builder. You must first fetch the results into a collection using methods like `all()` or by accessing a relationship. Which method is more performant for getting all IDs from a large table?For fetching all primary keys from a large table, using `YourModel::pluck('id')` directly on the Query Builder is generally more performant than retrieving all models with `YourModel::all()` and then calling `modelKeys()`. ![Mohamed Said](https://cdn.msaied.com/01M22N44A70A5MC2S599JP0MPH.webp)About the author ---------------- [Mohamed Said](https://www.msaied.com/public#person)Senior Backend Engineer specializing in Laravel, scalable SaaS platforms, APIs, and cloud infrastructure. I build secure, high-performance web applications that help businesses grow. [About](https://www.msaied.com/public#about) [GitHub ↗](https://github.com/EG-Mohamed) [LinkedIn ↗](https://www.linkedin.com/in/msaiedm/) [WhatsApp ↗](https://wa.me/201094619204) [Email Address ↗](mailto:hello@msaied.com) [My CV ↗](https://drive.google.com/file/u/0/d/1MF20IPRJyzfy32mhEutjL5EpSls0w2Q8/view) [Next articleLeveraging Carbon Constants for Cleaner Date and Time Logic in Laravel](https://www.msaied.com/public/articles/leveraging-carbon-constants-for-cleaner-date-and-time-logic-in-laravel) On this page ------------- 1. [Using pluck()](#using-codepluckcode) 2. [Introducing modelKeys()](#introducing-codemodelkeyscode) 3. [When to Use Which?](#when-to-use-which) 4. [Key Takeaways:](#key-takeaways) ### Have a technical challenge? Tell me what you’re building. I reply within two working days. 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