Keep or Append Query Strings in Laravel Pagination

• Laravel Pagination Guide: Preserve Query String Values
• Keeping All Current Query String Values
• Appending Specific Query String Values
• When to Use Each Method

Laravel Pagination Guide: Preserve Query String Values

When building a Laravel application that lists data with pagination, you often need to preserve certain query parameters across pages. For example, you may have filters like ?sort=price or ?category=books that should remain in the pagination links as the user navigates. Laravel makes this easy with two helpful methods: withQueryString() and appends().

Keeping All Current Query String Values

If you want all of the current request's query parameters to be preserved in the pagination links, you can use the withQueryString() method. This is especially useful when you have multiple filters and want them all carried over without manually specifying them.

use App\Models\User;
 
Route::get('/users', function () {
    $users = User::paginate(15)->withQueryString();
 
    return view('users.index', compact('users'));
});

If the current URL is:

/users?sort=name&role=admin

The pagination links generated will look like:

/users?page=2&sort=name&role=admin

Laravel automatically merges the page parameter with all other existing parameters.

Appending Specific Query String Values

Sometimes you don't need every query parameter from the request, you just want to add a few specific ones. In that case, use the appends() method and pass an array of key-value pairs.

use App\Models\User;
 
Route::get('/users', function () {
    $users = User::paginate(15);
 
    $users->appends(['sort' => 'votes']);
 
    return view('users.index', compact('users'));
});

Now, every pagination link will include ?sort=votes along with the correct page value:

/users?page=2&sort=votes

When to Use Each Method

• withQueryString(): Use when you want all existing request parameters preserved automatically.
• appends():Use when you only want to add or modify specific query parameters.

Both methods help maintain filter and search state across paginated results, improving user experience by ensuring their selected options stay intact as they browse through pages.