laravel/framework · error · RuntimeException

This database driver does not support retrieving indexes.

Error message

This database driver does not support retrieving indexes.

What it means

Grammar::compileIndexes() throws RuntimeException on the base class. All four shipped grammars override it, so the throw fires only when the connection's SchemaGrammar is the unimplemented base. Builder::getIndexes() routes here.

Solutions

Use a supported driver for index introspection.
Override compileIndexes($schema, $table) in your custom grammar.
Query the engine's index catalog directly (pg_indexes, SHOW INDEX, sys.indexes).

Example fix

// before
$idx = Schema::connection('custom')->getIndexes('users');

// after
$idx = DB::connection('custom')->select("SHOW INDEX FROM users");

Defensive patterns

Strategy: type-guard

Validate before calling

$grammar = Schema::getConnection()->getSchemaGrammar();
if (get_class($grammar) === \Illuminate\Database\Schema\Grammars\Grammar::class) {
    throw new \DomainException('Connection uses the base Grammar; cannot list indexes.');
}

Type guard

function supportsCompileIndexes(\Illuminate\Database\Schema\Grammars\Grammar $grammar): bool
{
    return (new \ReflectionMethod($grammar, 'compileIndexes'))
        ->getDeclaringClass()->getName() !== \Illuminate\Database\Schema\Grammars\Grammar::class;
}

Try / catch

try {
    $indexes = Schema::getIndexes('users');
} catch (\RuntimeException $e) {
    if (str_contains($e->getMessage(), 'retrieving indexes')) {
        $indexes = DB::select('SHOW INDEX FROM users');
    } else {
        throw $e;
    }
}

Prevention

Bind a real grammar in custom drivers; do not ship the base Grammar.
Gate index-inspection UI on the grammar class.
Implement compileIndexes when authoring a new grammar.

When it happens

Trigger: Schema::getIndexes($table) on a connection whose SchemaGrammar is the base Grammar (custom driver).

Common situations: A driver bridge that returns the base Grammar; admin/inspection tooling that lists indexes across connections including an unsupported one.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of laravel/framework@e0f6eb3518 (2026-08-11). Data as JSON: /api/errors/a0329285470fa719. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at src/Illuminate/Database/Schema/Grammars/Grammar.php:154

     * @throws \RuntimeException
     */
    public function compileColumns($schema, $table)
    {
        throw new RuntimeException('This database driver does not support retrieving columns.');
    }

    /**
     * Compile the query to determine the indexes.
     *
     * @param  string|null  $schema
     * @param  string  $table
     * @return string
     *
     * @throws \RuntimeException
     */
    public function compileIndexes($schema, $table)
    {
        throw new RuntimeException('This database driver does not support retrieving indexes.');
    }

    /**
     * Compile a vector index key command.
     *
     * @param  \Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint  $blueprint
     * @param  \Illuminate\Support\Fluent  $command
     * @return void
     *
     * @throws \RuntimeException
     */
    public function compileVectorIndex(Blueprint $blueprint, Fluent $command)
    {
        throw new RuntimeException('The database driver in use does not support vector indexes.');
    }

    /**
     * Compile the query to determine the foreign keys.

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