laravel exist

if (User::where('email', $request->email)->exists()) {
   //email exists in user table
}

$user = User::where('email', '=', Input::get('email'))->first();
if ($user === null) {
   // user doesn't exist
}

if (User::where('email', '=', Input::get('email'))->exists()) {
   // user found
}

if($user->isEmpty()){
    // has no records
}