[SOLVED] How do you force a JSON response on every response in Laravel?

How do you force a JSON response on every response in Laravel?

I'm trying to build a REST api using Laravel Framework, I want a way to force the API to always responed with JSON not by doing this manulaly like:

return Response::json($data);

In other words I want every response to be JSON. Is there a good way to do that?

Update: The response must be JSON even on exceptions like not found exception.

Solution

To return JSON in the controller just return $data;

For a JSON response on errors, go to app\Exceptions\Handler.php file and look at the render method.

You should be able to re-write it to look something like this:

public function render($request, Exception $e)
{
    // turn $e into an array.
    // this is sending status code of 500
    // get headers from $request.
    return response()->json($e, 500);
}

However you will have to decide what to do with $e, because it needs to be an array. You can also set the status code and header array.

But then on any error, it will return a JSON response.

Edit: It's also good to note that you can change the report method to handle how laravel logs the error as well. More info here.