Building a RESTful API with Laravel: A Step-by-Step Guide

Whether you're building a mobile backend or integrating with third-party services, Laravel makes API development straightforward and powerful.

Setup & Routing

Start by defining your routes in routes/api.php. Use route groups and middleware like auth:sanctum for protection.

Controllers & Resources

Use API-specific controllers (e.g., php artisan make:controller Api/UserController) and return data using Laravel Resources to format JSON responses consistently.

Validation & Error Handling

Use Form Requests for clean validation. Implement a custom exception handler for consistent error messages.

Authentication

Laravel Sanctum or Passport allows token-based auth. Choose the one that suits your use case (e.g., single-page apps vs. third-party apps).

With these tools, building a scalable API with Laravel becomes an enjoyable experience.