laravel:api-resources-and-pagination

Laravel API Resources wrap raw model data in a consistent response shape using Resource::collection with paginate. This approach maintains stable contracts across RESTful index endpoints while handling nested relations and conditional fields efficiently.

The best way to include conditional fields in Laravel API responses is using the when() and mergeWhen() methods within your API Resource classes. These methods conditionally add attributes to the response without breaking existing client contracts.

To version Laravel API Resources when contracts change, create separate resource classes for each API version. This supports backward compatibility and safe evolution by mapping raw model data to version-specific response shapes.

Yes, Laravel API Resources handle nested relations for index endpoints. By leveraging Resource::collection with paginate, you can efficiently transform related models into stable JSON structures while maintaining consistent response shapes.

You should use Laravel API Resources instead of raw model data to stabilize API responses. Resources provide a dedicated transformation layer that prevents accidental attribute exposure, manages conditional fields, and ensures consistent pagination metadata.