php - Laravel 4 Validation -

i use following rules validation on creating new user:

protected $rules= [     'name'    => 'required',     'email'    => [         'required',         'unique:user',         'email'     ] ];

when updating existing user use same ruleset shown above don't want validation error if user didn't change email @ all.

i resolve using following:

if (!user::changed('email')) {     unset($user->email); }

it feels dirty workaround me wondering if there better alternatives.

also note changed method wrote myself. know if there native laravel 4 method checking whether model property has changed?

thanks!

the unique validation rule allows ignore given id, in case id of data set updating.

'email' => 'unique:users,email_address,10'

DIs