how to do a validation on a string laravel code example

Example 1: laravel validate integer between

'item' => 'required|integer|between:1,10',

Example 2: laravel unique validation

unique:table,column,except,idColumn

############## Example : ################

############### For Updating  
//rules
'email' => 'unique:users,email_address,' . $userId,

############### For Creating 
//rules
'email' => 'unique:users,email_address',