---
title: "JSON API output — Likes for Laravel | Roundly"
description: "LikeResource and toLikeArray() return the like count, the viewer’s state and the per-reaction breakdown as JSON."
url: https://roundly-consulting.com/open-source/docs/likes-for-laravel/api-output
language: en
---

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[Likes for Laravel](https://roundly-consulting.com/open-source/docs/likes-for-laravel.md)

# JSON API output

Return a likeable’s like data from your API without hand-rolling the shape:

```php
use RoundlyConsulting\Likes\Http\Resources\LikeResource;

return LikeResource::make($post);          // resolves the viewer like every read (actor_resolver, else auth()->user())
// or build the array yourself:
$post->toLikeArray($request->user());
// => [
//   'count' => 12,
//   'viewer_state' => ['liked' => true, 'reaction' => 'love'],
//   'breakdown' => ['like' => 8, 'love' => 4],
// ]
```

LikeResource wraps a likeable model — not a Like row — and resolves the viewer like every other read (actor\_resolver, else auth()->user()); a guest gets liked: false. toLikeArray() builds the same shape from reactionSummary(), so the counting logic lives in one place.

## Response shape

| Key | Type | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `count` | int | Total active reactions of every type. |
| `viewer_state.liked` | bool | Whether the viewer has any active reaction. |
| `viewer_state.reaction` | string\|null | The viewer’s reaction type, or null. |
| `breakdown` | array<string, int> | Count per reaction type. |

## In a controller

React and return the fresh state in one endpoint:

```php
use Illuminate\Http\Request;
use Illuminate\Validation\Rule;
use RoundlyConsulting\Likes\Facades\Likes;
use RoundlyConsulting\Likes\Http\Resources\LikeResource;

final class PostReactionController
{
    public function update(Request $request, Post $post): LikeResource
    {
        $data = $request->validate([
            'reaction' => ['required', 'string', Rule::in(config('likes.reactions'))],
        ]);

        Likes::actor($request->user())->as($data['reaction'])->react($post);

        return LikeResource::make($post);
    }
}
```

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