//old way

if (request('filter_by') == 'likes') {

    $query->where('likes', '>', request('likes_amount', 0));

}

if (request('filter_by') == 'date') {

    $query->orderBy('created_at', request('ordering_rule', 'desc'));

}

​

//using when

$query = Author::query();

$query->when(request('filter_by') == 'likes', function ($q) {

    return $q->where('likes', '>', request('likes_amount', 0));

});

$query->when(request('filter_by') == 'date', function ($q) {

    return $q->orderBy('created_at', request('ordering_rule', 'desc'));

});

​

$query = User::query();

$query->when(request('role', false), function ($q, $role) {

    return $q->where('role_id', $role);

});

$authors = $query->get();