How to Publish API Route File in Laravel 11

In Laravel 11, the framework has introduced a new php artisan install:api command to streamline the setup of API-related components. This command automates the process of configuring your Laravel application for API development, including setting up routes, middleware, and other necessary files.

Let’s dive into how to use the php artisan install:api command and what it does in Laravel 11.

php artisan install:api

What Does php artisan install:api Do?

When you run the php artisan install:api command, Laravel performs the following actions:

1. Creates the routes/api.php file: If it doesn’t already exist, Laravel will create the routes/api.php file for defining API routes.
2. Registers API routes in bootstrap/app.php: It ensures that the api routes are loaded in the withRouting method of the bootstrap/app.php file.
3. Sets up API middleware: It configures the necessary middleware for API requests, such as throttle:api for rate limiting.
4. Optional: Installs API authentication (e.g., Sanctum): If you want API authentication, Laravel can install and configure Laravel Sanctum for token-based authentication.

Step 1: Run the php artisan install:api Command

To set up your Laravel 11 application for API development, follow these steps:

1. Open your terminal and navigate to your Laravel project directory:

cd your-laravel-project

2. Run the install:api command:

php artisan install:api

This command will set up the necessary files and configurations for API development.

Step 2: Verify the Changes

After running the command, verify the changes made by Laravel:

1. Check the routes/api.php file:
   Laravel will create the routes/api.php file if it doesn’t already exist. Open the file to see the default API route:

<?php

 

use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Route;

 

Route::middleware('auth:sanctum')->get('/user', function (Request $request) {

    return $request->user();

});

This route is protected by Laravel Sanctum and returns the authenticated user.

2. Check the bootstrap/app.php file:
   Laravel will update the withRouting method to include the api routes:

$app = Illuminate\Foundation\Application::configure(basePath: dirname(__DIR__))

    ->withRouting(

        web: __DIR__.'/../routes/web.php',

        api: __DIR__.'/../routes/api.php', // API routes registered

        commands: __DIR__.'/../routes/console.php',

        health: '/up',

    )

    ->withMiddleware(function (Middleware $middleware) {

        // Middleware configuration

    })

    ->withExceptions(function (Exceptions $exceptions) {

        // Exception handling configuration

    })->create();

3. Check the app/Http/Middleware directory:
   Laravel will ensure that the necessary middleware for API requests (e.g., rate limiting) is configured.

Step 3: Define Your API Routes

Now that the API setup is complete, you can define your custom API routes in the routes/api.php file. For example:

use App\Http\Controllers\UserController;

 

Route::prefix('v1')->group(function () {

    Route::get('/users', [UserController::class, 'index']);

    Route::post('/users', [UserController::class, 'store']);

});

This example creates a route group with a v1 prefix, which is a common practice for versioning APIs.

Step 4: Test Your API Routes

You can test your API routes using tools like Postman or your browser. For example, if you defined a route like this:

Route::get('/users', function () {

    return response()->json(['message' => 'List of users']);

});

You can access it by navigating to:

http://your-app-url/api/v1/users

If everything is set up correctly, you should see the JSON response:

{

    "message": "List of users"

}

Step 5: Optional: Install API Authentication (Sanctum)

If you need API authentication, Laravel Sanctum is the recommended package. You can install it by running:

php artisan install:api --sanctum

This command will:

1. Install Laravel Sanctum via composer.
2. Publish the Sanctum configuration file.
3. Set up the necessary migrations for API tokens.
4. Configure the auth:sanctum middleware for protecting API routes.

Conclusion

The php artisan install:api command in Laravel 11 simplifies the process of setting up your application for API development. It automates the creation of API routes, middleware configuration, and optional authentication setup using Laravel Sanctum.

By following this guide, you can quickly get started with building robust and scalable APIs in Laravel 11. Happy coding! 

 https://www.interviewsolutionshub.com/blog/laravel-sanctum-vs-passport-choosing-the-right-authentication-tool