Laravel - API Resources - Adding Meta Data

Some JSON API standards require the addition of meta data to your resource and resource collections responses. This often includes things like links to the resource or related resources, or meta data about the resource itself. If you need to return additional meta data about a resource, include it in your toArray method. For example, you might include link information when transforming a resource collection:

    
    /**
     * Transform the resource into an array.
     *
     * @param  \Illuminate\Http\Request  $request
     * @return array
     */
    public function toArray($request)
    {
        return [
            'data' => $this->collection,
            'links' => [
                'self' => 'link-value',
            ],
        ];
    }
	

When returning additional meta data from your resources, you never have to worry about accidentally overriding the links or meta keys that are automatically added by Laravel when returning paginated responses. Any additional links you define will be merged with the links provided by the paginator.