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How to Build a REST API in Laravel With Resource Collections
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A simple guide to How to Build a REST API in Laravel With Resource Collections. Learn what to build first, what to check, and where mistakes usually happen.
Returning raw Eloquent models often exposes data you want to hide (like passwords or internal timestamps). API Resources allow you to transform your data before sending it to the client.
Creating a Resource
bash
php artisan make:resource UserResourcephp
<?php
namespace App\Http\Resources;
use Illuminate\Http\Resources\Json\JsonResource;
class UserResource extends JsonResource
{
public function toArray($request)
{
return [
'id' => $this->id,
'full_name' => $this->first_name . ' ' . $this->last_name,
'email' => $this->email,
'created_at' => $this->created_at->format('d-m-Y'),
];
}
}