laravel/framework · error · InvalidCastException

Call to undefined cast

Error message

Call to undefined cast [{$castType}] on column [{$column}] in model [{$class}].

What it means

Thrown as InvalidCastException by isClassCastable() when the cast type for an attribute is neither a recognized primitive cast (in $primitiveCastTypes) nor a loadable class (class_exists() is false). Eloquent assumes class-based casts must reference an existing class; an unknown string is treated as a typo rather than silently ignored.

Solutions

Correct the cast name to a recognized primitive (datetime, json, encrypted, etc.) or the FQCN of a real caster class.
Verify the caster class exists and is autoloaded (composer dump-autoload, check PSR-4 path).
If using a Castable, reference its class name; the Castable resolves to the real caster.
Remove or comment out the invalid cast entry if no longer needed.

Example fix

// before
protected $casts = [
    'published_at' => 'datetimes', // typo, not a primitive, no such class
];

// after
protected $casts = [
    'published_at' => 'datetime',
];

Defensive patterns

Strategy: validation

Validate before calling

foreach ((function () { $m = new YourModel; $r = new \ReflectionObject($m); return $r->getProperty('casts')->getValue($m); })() as $attr => $cast) {
    $castType = strpos($cast, ':') !== false ? substr($cast, 0, strpos($cast, ':')) : $cast;
    $primitives = ['int','integer','real','float','double','decimal','string','bool','boolean','object','array','json','collection','date','datetime','timestamp','encrypted','encrypted:array','encrypted:collection','encrypted:json','encrypted:object','AsArrayObject','AsCollection','AsEncryptedArrayObject','AsEncryptedCollection'];
    if (! in_array($castType, $primitives, true) && ! class_exists($castType)) {
        throw new \LogicException("Unknown cast '{$cast}' for attribute {$attr}");
    }
}

Type guard

function castTypeResolves(string $castType): bool
{
    return in_array($castType, [
        'int','integer','real','float','double','decimal:','string','bool','boolean',
        'object','array','json','collection','date','datetime','timestamp',
        'encrypted','hashed',
    ], true) || class_exists($castType) || enum_exists($castType);
}

Prevention

Reference caster classes via their ::class constant so a missing class surfaces at static analysis time.
Run composer dump-autoload after adding a custom caster class.
Add a boot test that iterates a model's $casts and asserts each non-primitive entry resolves to a real class.

When it happens

Trigger: Listing a cast like 'jsonb', 'encrypted', or a misspelled/renamed class name in $casts that is not a primitive and does not resolve to an existing class. Triggered when Eloquent evaluates class-castability for the key (e.g. on attribute access that routes through isClassCastable()).

Common situations: Misspelling a cast ('datetimes' instead of 'datetime'); referencing a custom caster class that was deleted, not autoloaded, or namespaced incorrectly; using a cast name from an older/newer Laravel version that does not exist here; forgetting to composer dump-autoload after adding a caster class.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of laravel/framework@e0f6eb3518 (2026-08-11). Data as JSON: /api/errors/9664fd90ac3c5e1b. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at src/Illuminate/Database/Eloquent/Concerns/HasAttributes.php:1802

    protected function isClassCastable($key)
    {
        $casts = $this->getCasts();

        if (! array_key_exists($key, $casts)) {
            return false;
        }

        $castType = $this->parseCasterClass($casts[$key]);

        if (in_array($castType, static::$primitiveCastTypes)) {
            return false;
        }

        if (class_exists($castType)) {
            return true;
        }

        throw new InvalidCastException($this->getModel(), $key, $castType);
    }

    /**
     * Determine if the given key is cast using an enum.
     *
     * @param  string  $key
     * @return bool
     */
    protected function isEnumCastable($key)
    {
        $casts = $this->getCasts();

        if (! array_key_exists($key, $casts)) {
            return false;
        }

        $castType = $casts[$key];

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