laravel ->exists( code example
Example 1: laravel check record exists
$user = User::where('email', '=', Input::get('email'))->first();
if ($user === null) {
// user doesn't exist
}
Example 2: check for an existing user laravel eloquent
$users = User::where('email', '=', $request->input('email'))->first();
if ($users === null) {
// User does not exist
} else {
// User exits
}