Building a RESTful API with Laravel: Complete Tutorial

Tutorials Jan 24, 2026 1677 views

In this comprehensive tutorial, we'll build a complete RESTful API using Laravel. Let's get started:

Step 1: Setup Laravel Project

Create a new Laravel project and install necessary packages for API development.

Step 2: Create Models and Migrations

Design your database schema and create models with their corresponding migrations.

Step 3: Build API Routes

Define your API routes in the routes/api.php file. Use resource controllers for CRUD operations.

Step 4: Implement Authentication

Set up API authentication using Laravel Sanctum or Passport for secure API access.

Step 5: Add Validation

Create form request classes to validate incoming API requests.

Step 6: Handle Responses

Use API resources to format your API responses consistently.

By following this tutorial, you'll have a fully functional RESTful API ready for production use.