laravel/framework · error · InvalidArgumentException

Cache value for key [%s] must be an array, %s given.

Error message

Cache value for key [%s] must be an array, %s given.

What it means

Thrown by Cache\Repository::array() when the stored value fails is_array(). Common because serializers and some stores round-trip objects, and a missing key returns null. Use it to be sure you receive a true array.

Source

Thrown at src/Illuminate/Cache/Repository.php:351

    }

    /**
     * Retrieve an array item from the cache.
     *
     * @param  \UnitEnum|string  $key
     * @param  (\Closure():(array<array-key, mixed>|null))|array<array-key, mixed>|null  $default
     * @return array<array-key, mixed>
     *
     * @throws \InvalidArgumentException
     */
    public function array($key, $default = null): array
    {
        $key = enum_value($key);

        $value = $this->get($key, $default);

        if (! is_array($value)) {
            throw new InvalidArgumentException(
                sprintf('Cache value for key [%s] must be an array, %s given.', $key, gettype($value))
            );
        }

        return $value;
    }

    /**
     * Store an item in the cache.
     *
     * @param  \UnitEnum|array|string  $key
     * @param  mixed  $value
     * @param  \DateTimeInterface|\DateInterval|int|null  $ttl
     * @return bool
     */
    public function put($key, $value, $ttl = null)
    {
        if (is_array($key)) {

View on GitHub (pinned to bd6b5437e6)

Solutions

  1. Pass an array default: Cache::array('items', []).
  2. Store the actual array: Cache::put('items', $model->toArray(), $ttl) or Cache::put('items', $data, $ttl) without json_encode.
  3. If the store returns objects, cast/normalize: Cache::put('items', json_decode(json_encode($obj), true), $ttl).
  4. Cache::forget('items') to drop a malformed entry.

Example fix

// before
$items = Cache::array('cart.items');

// after
$items = Cache::array('cart.items', []);
Cache::put('cart.items', $cart->items()->toArray(), $ttl);
Defensive patterns

Strategy: type-guard

Validate before calling

$value = Cache::get('items');
if (! is_array($value)) {
    $value = [];
}

Type guard

function isCachedArray(string $key): bool {
    return is_array(Cache::get($key));
}

Try / catch

try {
    $items = Cache::array('items', []);
} catch (\InvalidArgumentException $e) {
    $items = [];
    Cache::forget('items');
}

Prevention

When it happens

Trigger: Calling Cache::array('items') when the stored value is an object, a scalar, the string '[]' (serialized JSON string rather than decoded array), or null from a missing key with no array default.

Common situations: Storing a model or stdClass instead of its ->toArray(); caching json_encode($data) (a string) then reading with array(); a stale key written before a schema change.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of laravel/framework@bd6b5437e6 (2026-08-06). Data as JSON: /data/errors/ef56e9236acb78d4.json. Report an issue: GitHub.