Transformer Example

UserTransformer.php

<?php

class UserTransformer {
  public function transform(User $user) {
  
                                                    // transformers are handy for...
    return [
      'name' => $user->name,                              // just showing data
      'age' => $user->age . ' years',                     // appending a word at the end
      'avatar' => url('/avatars/'.$user->avatar),         // formulating a URL
      'active' => $user->posts()->count() > 0,            // simple logic
      'is_admin' => $user->hasGroup('admin'),             // convenience flags
      'friends' => $user->friends()->lists('name'),       // quick lists
      
      'join_date' => $user
        ->created_at->format('jS F Y'),                   // formatting
      'member_duration' => $user
        ->created_at->diffForHumans(),                    // formatting for special situations
      
      'referral' => $user->referral ?
        $this->transform($user->referral) : false,        // chain transformers!
    ];
  
  }
}

Need to append extra information to a model before passing it to a view or JSON? Stop wrangling with eager loads, $appends, accessors and other shenanigans in a model. Build a transformer class, let it set up your data for you, and pass this instead.

Lens flare explosions not included.