php - Get number of rows in Laravel's Eloquent before using "take" and "skip" -

i want query laravel model using eloquent results may need match clauses, take , skip predefined numbers.

this isn't problem in itself, need know number of rows found in query before reducing result set take , skip - original number of matches every row in table if no clauses used or few if either used.

what want accomplished making query twice, first omitting "->take($idisplaylength)->skip($idisplaystart)" @ end , counting that, seems messy.

any thoughts?

$contacts = contact::where(function($query) use ($request) {      if (!empty($request['firstname'])) {         $query->where(function($query) use ($request)         {             $query->where('firstname', 'like', "%{$request['firstname']}%");          });     }         if (!empty($request['lastname'])) {         $query->where(function($query) use ($request)         {             $query->where('lastname', 'like', "%{$request['lastname']}%");          });     }       }) ->take($idisplaylength)->skip($idisplaystart)->get();  $itotalrecords = count($contacts); 

you can use count get on same query.

and way, whole query bit on complicated. results in this:

select * `contacts` ((`firstname` ?) , (`lastname` ?)) limit x, y 

closure in where used make query example:

select * table (x or y) , (a or b); 

so sum need this:

$query = contact::query();  if (!empty($request['firstname'])) {   $query->where('firstname', 'like', "%{$request['firstname']}%"); }  if (!empty($request['lastname'])) {   $query->where('lastname', 'like', "%{$request['lastname']}%"); }  $count = $query->count();  $contacts = $query->take($idisplaylength)->skip(idisplaystart)->get();