Replicating ShouldBeSearchable() Functionality With Laravel Elasticsearch And Elasticlens

July 13, 2025 by StackCamp Team 90 views

This article addresses the question of how to replicate the functionality of Laravel Scout's shouldBeSearchable() method using the laravel-elasticsearch package and the elasticlens package. The goal is to achieve conditional indexing of records in Elasticsearch, where records are indexed or removed based on certain conditions.

Problem Statement

The user wants to implement a conditional synchronization of records to Elasticsearch. Specifically, they need to create or update a record in the Elasticsearch index if a certain condition is met. If the condition is not met, the record should be removed from the index. The user is familiar with Laravel Scout's shouldBeSearchable() method, which provides this functionality, and is seeking a similar approach using laravel-elasticsearch and elasticlens.

Understanding `shouldBeSearchable()` in Laravel Scout

In Laravel Scout, the shouldBeSearchable() method allows you to define conditions under which a model should be indexed in the search engine. This is a powerful feature for ensuring that only relevant data is indexed, which can improve search performance and reduce index size. By default, all models are indexed, but you can override this method in your model to implement custom logic.

For example, you might want to only index products that are currently in stock or articles that have been published. The shouldBeSearchable() method provides a clean and elegant way to achieve this. When a model is saved or updated, Scout checks the return value of this method. If it returns true, the model is indexed; otherwise, it is removed from the index.

How `shouldBeSearchable()` Works

When a model implements the Searchable trait in Laravel Scout, it automatically gains the ability to synchronize its data to a search index. The shouldBeSearchable() method is a part of this process, acting as a gatekeeper. Here’s a breakdown of how it typically works:

Model Events: Scout listens to model events such as created, updated, and deleted. These events trigger the synchronization process.
shouldBeSearchable() Check: Before indexing or updating a model in the search index, Scout calls the shouldBeSearchable() method on the model instance.
Conditional Logic: Inside shouldBeSearchable(), you can define your custom logic. This might involve checking the value of certain attributes, the status of relationships, or any other relevant conditions.
Indexing Decision: If shouldBeSearchable() returns true, Scout proceeds to index or update the model in the search index. If it returns false, Scout removes the model from the index if it exists.
Queueing: Often, these operations are queued to prevent blocking the application's main thread, ensuring a smooth user experience.

By leveraging shouldBeSearchable(), developers can maintain a clean and relevant search index, which leads to faster and more accurate search results. This is particularly useful in applications with complex data models and dynamic content.

Replicating `shouldBeSearchable()` with `laravel-elasticsearch` and `elasticlens`

The challenge is to replicate this functionality using laravel-elasticsearch and elasticlens. While these packages don't have a direct equivalent to shouldBeSearchable(), we can achieve the same result by implementing a similar conditional logic within our application.

Understanding `laravel-elasticsearch` and `elasticlens`

Before diving into the solution, let's briefly understand the packages we're working with:

laravel-elasticsearch: This package provides a low-level client for interacting with Elasticsearch. It allows you to execute raw Elasticsearch queries and manage indices.
elasticlens: This package builds on top of laravel-elasticsearch and provides a more convenient way to interact with Elasticsearch. It offers features like automatic index management, model synchronization, and search queries using Eloquent-like syntax.

Implementing Conditional Indexing

To replicate the shouldBeSearchable() functionality, we need to implement a mechanism that checks our condition before indexing or removing a record. Here’s a step-by-step approach:

Model Events: Listen to model events such as created, updated, and deleted.
Conditional Check: In the event listener, implement your conditional logic. This could involve checking the value of certain attributes or any other relevant conditions.
Indexing/Removal: Based on the result of the conditional check, either index the record or remove it from the index.

Step 1: Listen to Model Events

We can use Laravel's event system to listen to model events. For example, let's say we have a Product model and we want to index only products that are in stock. We can create an event listener for the Product model's saved event.

<?php

namespace App\Listeners;

use App\Models\Product;
use Illuminate\Contracts\Queue\ShouldQueue;
use Illuminate\Queue\InteractsWithQueue;

class ProductSavedListener implements ShouldQueue
{
    use InteractsWithQueue;

    public function handle(object $event): void
    {
        $product = $event->model;

        if ($this->shouldBeSearchable($product)) {
            $product->syncToSearch();
        } else {
            $product->removeFromSearch();
        }
    }

    private function shouldBeSearchable(Product $product): bool
    {
        return $product->is_in_stock;
    }
}

In this example, we've created a ProductSavedListener that listens to the saved event of the Product model. The handle method is executed when a product is saved or updated.

Step 2: Implement Conditional Logic

Inside the handle method, we implement our conditional logic. In this case, we check the is_in_stock attribute of the Product model. If the product is in stock, we proceed to index it; otherwise, we remove it from the index. The shouldBeSearchable method encapsulates this logic, making the code more readable and maintainable.

Step 3: Indexing/Removal

Based on the result of the conditional check, we either index the record using $product->syncToSearch() or remove it from the index using $product->removeFromSearch(). These methods are provided by the elasticlens package and handle the synchronization with Elasticsearch.

Using `syncToSearch()` and `removeFromSearch()`

The syncToSearch() method is used to index or update a model in Elasticsearch. It automatically maps the model's attributes to the Elasticsearch index. The removeFromSearch() method, on the other hand, removes the model from the index.

Both methods are part of the Elasticsearchable trait provided by elasticlens. To use them, you need to add the trait to your model:

<?php

namespace App\Models;

use Elastic\\Elasticsearch\\Client; // Import the Elasticsearch Client class
use Elastic\\ScoutDriver\\Searchable; // Changed use statement
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;

class Product extends Model
{
    use Searchable;

    protected $fillable = ['name', 'description', 'price', 'is_in_stock'];
}

By using these methods in conjunction with our conditional logic, we can effectively replicate the shouldBeSearchable() functionality of Laravel Scout.

Registering the Event Listener

To register the event listener, we need to add it to the listen array in our EventServiceProvider:

<?php

namespace App\Providers;

use App\Events\ProductSaved;
use App\Listeners\ProductSavedListener;
use Illuminate\Foundation\Support\Providers\EventServiceProvider as ServiceProvider;

class EventServiceProvider extends ServiceProvider
{
    protected $listen = [
        \App\Events\ProductSaved::class => [
            \App\Listeners\ProductSavedListener::class,
        ],
    ];

    public function boot(): void
    {
        parent::boot();
    }
}

We also need to define the ProductSaved event. This event will be fired whenever a Product model is saved or updated:

<?php

namespace App\Events;

use Illuminate\Broadcasting\InteractsWithSockets;
use Illuminate\Foundation\Events\Dispatchable;
use Illuminate\Queue\SerializesModels;
use App\Models\Product;

class ProductSaved
{
    use Dispatchable, InteractsWithSockets, SerializesModels;

    public Product $model;

    public function __construct(Product $product)
    {
        $this->model = $product;
    }
}

Now, whenever a Product model is saved, the ProductSaved event will be fired, and our ProductSavedListener will be executed. This listener will then check our condition and either index or remove the product from Elasticsearch.

Handling Deletion

In addition to the saved event, we also need to handle the deleted event. When a model is deleted, we want to ensure that it is also removed from the Elasticsearch index. We can achieve this by creating a separate event listener for the deleted event:

<?php

namespace App\Listeners;

use App\Models\Product;
use Illuminate\Contracts\Queue\ShouldQueue;
use Illuminate\Queue\InteractsWithQueue;

class ProductDeletedListener implements ShouldQueue
{
    use InteractsWithQueue;

    public function handle(object $event): void
    {
        $product = $event->model;
        $product->removeFromSearch();
    }
}

This listener simply removes the product from the index when it is deleted. We also need to register this listener in our EventServiceProvider:

<?php

namespace App\Providers;

use App\Events\ProductSaved;
use App\Listeners\ProductSavedListener;
use App\Events\ProductDeleted;
use App\Listeners\ProductDeletedListener;
use Illuminate\Foundation\Support\Providers\EventServiceProvider as ServiceProvider;

class EventServiceProvider extends ServiceProvider
{
    protected $listen = [
        \App\Events\ProductSaved::class => [
            \App\Listeners\ProductSavedListener::class,
        ],
        \App\Events\ProductDeleted::class => [
            \App\Listeners\ProductDeletedListener::class,
        ],
    ];

    public function boot(): void
    {
        parent::boot();
    }
}

And define the ProductDeleted event:

<?php

namespace App\Events;

use Illuminate\Broadcasting\InteractsWithSockets;
use Illuminate\Foundation\Events\Dispatchable;
use Illuminate\Queue\SerializesModels;
use App\Models\Product;

class ProductDeleted
{
    use Dispatchable, InteractsWithSockets, SerializesModels;

    public Product $model;

    public function __construct(Product $product)
    {
        $this->model = $product;
    }
}

With this listener in place, we can be sure that our Elasticsearch index stays synchronized with our database, even when records are deleted.

Alternative Approaches

While using event listeners is a common and effective approach, there are other ways to achieve conditional indexing with laravel-elasticsearch and elasticlens. Let's explore some alternatives:

Using Observers

Laravel Observers provide another way to listen to model events and perform actions based on those events. Instead of using event listeners, you can create an observer class that contains methods for handling different model events.

Here’s an example of a ProductObserver that replicates the functionality of our ProductSavedListener and ProductDeletedListener:

<?php

namespace App\Observers;

use App\Models\Product;

class ProductObserver
{
    public function saved(Product $product): void
    {
        if ($this->shouldBeSearchable($product)) {
            $product->syncToSearch();
        } else {
            $product->removeFromSearch();
        }
    }

    public function deleted(Product $product): void
    {
        $product->removeFromSearch();
    }

    private function shouldBeSearchable(Product $product): bool
    {
        return $product->is_in_stock;
    }
}

To register the observer, you need to call the observe method in your boot method of your AppServiceProvider:

<?php

namespace App\Providers;

use App\Models\Product;
use App\Observers\ProductObserver;
use Illuminate\Support\ServiceProvider;

class AppServiceProvider extends ServiceProvider
{
    public function boot(): void
    {
        Product::observe(ProductObserver::class);
    }
}

Observers can make your code more organized and easier to read, especially when you have multiple actions to perform for each model event.

Using Queues

In our previous examples, we've used the ShouldQueue interface to queue our event listeners and observers. This is important to prevent blocking the application's main thread, especially when dealing with large datasets or complex indexing operations.

However, you can also explicitly dispatch jobs to the queue for indexing and removal. This can give you more control over the queueing process and allow you to implement custom retry logic or prioritization.

Here’s an example of how you can dispatch a job to index a product:

<?php

namespace App\Jobs;

use App\Models\Product;
use Illuminate\Bus\Queueable;
use Illuminate\Contracts\Queue\ShouldBeUnique;
use Illuminate\Contracts\Queue\ShouldQueue;
use Illuminate\Foundation\Bus\Dispatchable;
use Illuminate\Queue\InteractsWithQueue;
use Illuminate\Queue\SerializesModels;

class SyncProductToSearch implements ShouldQueue
{
    use Dispatchable, InteractsWithQueue, Queueable, SerializesModels;

    protected $product;

    public function __construct(Product $product)
    {
        $this->product = $product;
    }

    public function handle(): void
    {
        $this->product->syncToSearch();
    }
}

And here’s how you can dispatch a job to remove a product from the index:

<?php

namespace App\Jobs;

use App\Models\Product;
use Illuminate\Bus\Queueable;
use Illuminate\Contracts\Queue\ShouldBeUnique;
use Illuminate\Contracts\Queue\ShouldQueue;
use Illuminate\Foundation\Bus\Dispatchable;
use Illuminate\Queue\InteractsWithQueue;
use Illuminate\Queue\SerializesModels;

class RemoveProductFromSearch implements ShouldQueue
{
    use Dispatchable, InteractsWithQueue, Queueable, SerializesModels;

    protected $product;

    public function __construct(Product $product)
    {
        $this->product = $product;
    }

    public function handle(): void
    {
        $this->product->removeFromSearch();
    }
}

In your event listener or observer, you can then dispatch these jobs based on your conditional logic:

<?php

namespace App\Listeners;

use App\Events\ProductSaved;
use App\Jobs\SyncProductToSearch;
use App\Jobs\RemoveProductFromSearch;
use Illuminate\Contracts\Queue\ShouldQueue;
use Illuminate\Queue\InteractsWithQueue;

class ProductSavedListener implements ShouldQueue
{
    use InteractsWithQueue;

    public function handle(object $event): void
    {
        $product = $event->model;

        if ($this->shouldBeSearchable($product)) {
            SyncProductToSearch::dispatch($product);
        } else {
            RemoveProductFromSearch::dispatch($product);
        }
    }

    private function shouldBeSearchable(Product $product): bool
    {
        return $product->is_in_stock;
    }
}

By using queues, you can ensure that your indexing operations are performed asynchronously, which can improve the performance and responsiveness of your application.

Conclusion

Replicating the shouldBeSearchable() functionality from Laravel Scout using laravel-elasticsearch and elasticlens requires a bit more manual work, but it is certainly achievable. By listening to model events, implementing conditional logic, and using the syncToSearch() and removeFromSearch() methods, you can effectively control which records are indexed in Elasticsearch. Whether you choose to use event listeners, observers, or queues, the key is to implement a mechanism that checks your conditions before indexing or removing a record.

This article has provided a comprehensive guide on how to achieve this, along with alternative approaches to suit different needs and preferences. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your Elasticsearch index remains clean, relevant, and performant, ultimately leading to a better search experience for your users.

Keywords for SEO Optimization

Laravel Elasticsearch
Elasticlens
shouldBeSearchable
Conditional Indexing
Elasticsearch Synchronization
Laravel Scout
Model Events
Event Listeners
Observers
Queues
syncToSearch
removeFromSearch