Laravel validation trait.

ValidatorTrait.php

<?php

trait ValidatorTrait {

	protected $validator;

	public function isValid()
	{
		return $this->getValidator()->passes();
	}

	public function getValidator()
	{
		return Validator::make($this->attributes, $this->rules);
	}

	public function getErrors()
	{
		return $this->getValidator()->errors();
	}

}

Usage:

Import the trait, and then define a $rules property in your model class with the validation rules.

<?php

class Article extends \Eloquent {

    use ValidatorTrait;

    protected $rules = array(
        'headline' => 'required'
    );

}

And then use as thus:

<?php

class ArticleController extends \BaseController {

    public function store()
    {
        $article = new Article;
        $article->headline = Input::get('headline');

        if ($article->isValid())
        {
            $article->save();

            return Redirect::route('article.index')
                ->withSuccess(Lang::get('messages.article_saved');
        }
        else
        {
            return Redirect::route('article.create')
                ->withErrors($article->getErrors())
                ->withInput();
        }
    }

}