thebadspace/app/Http/Controllers/LocationController.php

<?php

namespace App\Http\Controllers;

use Illuminate\Http\Request;
use App\Models\Location;
use Ramsey\Uuid\Uuid;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Auth;

class LocationController extends Controller
{
    //
    public function addLocation(Request $request)
    {
        $fields = $request->validate([
            'name'        => ['required'],
            'url'         => ['required'],
            'description' => ['required'],
            'tags'        => ['required'],
        ]);

        if ($fields) {
            $examples = [];
            $files    = $request->files->get("loc_examples");
            if ($request->hasfile('loc_examples')) {
                foreach ($request->file('loc_examples') as $file) {
                    $path = $file->store('reference');
                    array_push($examples, ["path" => $path]);
                }
            }
            $request->merge(['active' => true]);
            $request->merge(['uuid' => Uuid::uuid4()]);
            $request->merge(['images' => json_encode($examples)]);
            $request->merge(['added_by' => Auth::user()->id]);
            //NOTE: Laravel gets funky if sequencing isn't explicitly set
            $new = Location::create($request->all());
            if ($new) {
                return back()->with('message', 'New Location Added. Take a break!');
            } else {
                return back()->withErrors([
                    'error' => 'Uh oh. There was an inssue',
                ]);
            }
        } else {
            return back()->withErrors([
                'error' => 'All fields are required',
            ]);
        }
    }
}