laravel model::query

// If there's a flight from Oakland to San Diego, set the price to $99.
// If no matching model exists, create one.
$flight = App\Models\Flight::updateOrCreate(
    ['departure' => 'Oakland', 'destination' => 'San Diego'],
    ['price' => 99, 'discounted' => 1]
);

$model = App\Models\Flight::where('legs', '>', 100)
            ->firstOr(['id', 'legs'], function () {
                // ...
            });

// Eloquent's Model::query() returns the query builder

Model::where()->get();
// Is the same as 
Model::query()->where()->get();

Model::query();
// Can be useful to add query conditions based on certain requirements

// See https://stackoverflow.com/questions/51517203/what-is-the-meaning-of-eloquents-modelquery