json-rest-api 1.0.6 → 1.0.8

package/docs/GUIDE/GUIDE_2_3_BelongsTo_Relationships.md

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+# 2.3 `belongsTo` Relationships
+
+`belongsTo` relationships represent a one-to-one or many-to-one association where the current resource "belongs to" another resource. For example, a `book` belongs to an `author`, or an `author` belongs to a `country`. These relationships are typically managed by a **foreign key** on the "belonging" resource's table.
+
+Let's expand our schema definitions to include `publishers` and link them to `countries`. These schemas will be defined **once** here and reused throughout this section.
+
+```javascript
+// Define countries resource
+await api.addResource('countries', {
+  schema: {
+    name: { type: 'string', required: true, max: 100, search: true },
+    code: { type: 'string', max: 2, unique: true, search: true, indexed: true },
+  }
+});
+await api.resources.countries.createKnexTable();
+
+// Define publishers resource
+await api.addResource('publishers', {
+  schema: {
+    name: { type: 'string', required: true, max: 255 },
+    country_id: { type: 'id', belongsTo: 'countries', as: 'country', nullable: true }
+  },
+  // searchSchema completely defines all filterable fields for this resource
+  searchSchema: {
+    name: { type: 'string' },
+    country: { type: 'id', actualField: 'country_id', nullable: true },
+    countryCode: { type: 'string', actualField: 'countries.code' }
+  }
+});
+await api.resources.publishers.createKnexTable();
+```
+
+Now, let's add some data. Notice the flexibility of using either the foreign key field `country_id` or the relationship alias `country` when linking a publisher to a country in simplified mode.
+
+```javascript
+const france = await api.resources.countries.post({ name: 'France', code: 'FR' });
+const germany = await api.resources.countries.post({ name: 'Germany', code: 'DE' });
+const uk = await api.resources.countries.post({ name: 'United Kingdom', code: 'UK' });
+
+// Create a publisher linking via the relationship alias (simplified syntax)
+const frenchPublisher = await api.resources.publishers.post({
+  name: 'French Books Inc.',
+  country: france.id
+});
+
+// Create a publisher linking via the foreign key field directly
+const germanPublisher = await api.resources.publishers.post({
+  name: 'German Press GmbH',
+  country_id: germany.id
+});
+
+const ukPublisher = await api.resources.publishers.post({
+  name: 'UK Books Ltd.',
+  country: uk.id
+});
+
+const internationalPublisher = await api.resources.publishers.post({
+  name: 'Global Publishing',
+  country_id: null
+});
+
+
+console.log('Added French Publisher:', inspect(frenchPublisher));
+console.log('Added German Publisher:', inspect(germanPublisher));
+console.log('Added UK Publisher:', inspect(ukPublisher));
+console.log('Added International Publisher:', inspect(internationalPublisher));
+```
+
+**Explanation of Interchangeability (`country_id` vs. `country`):**
+
+When defining a `belongsTo` relationship with an `as` alias (e.g., `country_id: { ..., as: 'country' }`), `json-rest-api` provides flexibility in how you provide the related resource's ID during `post`, `put`, or `patch` operations in **simplified mode**:
+
+* You can use the **relationship alias** (the `as` value) directly with the ID of the related resource (e.g., `country: france.id`). This is generally recommended for clarity and aligns with the relationship concept.
+* You can use the direct **foreign key field name** (e.g., `country_id: germany.id`). The system is flexible enough to recognize this as a foreign key and process it correctly.
+
+Both approaches achieve the same result of setting the underlying foreign key in the database.
+
+**Expected Output (Illustrative, IDs may vary):**
+
+```text
+Added French Publisher: { id: '1', name: 'French Books Inc.', country_id: '1' }
+Added German Publisher: { id: '2', name: 'German Press GmbH', country_id: '2' }
+Added UK Publisher: { id: '3', name: 'UK Books Ltd.', country_id: '3' }
+Added International Publisher: { id: '4', name: 'Global Publishing', country_id: null }
+```
+
+## Including `belongsTo` Records (`include`)
+
+To retrieve related `belongsTo` resources, use the `include` query parameter.
+
+When fetching data programmatically, `simplified` mode is `true` by default. This means that instead of a separate `included` array (as in full JSON:API), related `belongsTo` resources are **denormalized and embedded directly** within the main resource's object structure, providing a very convenient and flat data structure for immediate use.
+
+### Programmatic Usage:
+
+```javascript
+// Re-add data for a fresh start (schemas are reused from above)
+const france = await api.resources.countries.post({ name: 'France', code: 'FR' });
+const germany = await api.resources.countries.post({ name: 'Germany', code: 'DE' });
+const uk = await api.resources.countries.post({ name: 'United Kingdom', code: 'UK' });
+
+await api.resources.publishers.post({ name: 'French Books Inc.', country: france.id });
+await api.resources.publishers.post({ name: 'Another French Books Inc.', country: france.id });
+await api.resources.publishers.post({ name: 'UK Books Ltd.', country: uk.id });
+await api.resources.publishers.post({ name: 'German Press GmbH', country_id: germany.id });
+await api.resources.publishers.post({ name: 'Global Publishing', country_id: null });
+
+await api.resources.publishers.post({ 
+  name: 'UK Books Ltd.', 
+  country: uk.id 
+});
+
+
+// Get a publisher and include its country (simplified mode output)
+const publisherWithCountry = await api.resources.publishers.get({
+  id: '1', // ID of French Books Inc.
+  queryParams: {
+    include: ['country'] // Use the 'as' alias defined in the schema
+  }
+});
+console.log('Publisher with Country:', inspect(publisherWithCountry));
+
+// Query all publishers and include their countries (simplified mode output)
+const allPublishersWithCountries = await api.resources.publishers.query({
+  queryParams: {
+    include: ['country']
+  }
+});
+// HTTP: GET /api/publishers?include=country
+// Returns (simplified): [
+//   { id: '1', name: 'French Books Inc.', country_id: '1', country: { id: '1', name: 'France', code: 'FR' } },
+//   { id: '2', name: 'German Press GmbH', country_id: '2', country: { id: '2', name: 'Germany', code: 'DE' } },
+//   { id: '3', name: 'UK Books Ltd.', country_id: '3', country: { id: '3', name: 'United Kingdom', code: 'UK' } },
+//   { id: '4', name: 'Global Publishing', country_id: null, country: null }
+// ]
+
+console.log('All Publishers with Countries:', inspect(allPublishersWithCountries));
+// Note: allPublishersWithCountries contains { data, meta, links }
+
+// Query all publishers and include their countries (JSON:API format)
+const allPublishersWithCountriesNotSimplified = await api.resources.publishers.query({
+  queryParams: {
+    include: ['country']
+  },
+  simplified: false
+});
+// HTTP: GET /api/publishers?include=country
+// Returns (JSON:API): {
+//   data: [
+//     { type: 'publishers', id: '1', attributes: { name: 'French Books Inc.' }, 
+//       relationships: { country: { data: { type: 'countries', id: '1' } } } },
+//     { type: 'publishers', id: '2', attributes: { name: 'German Press GmbH' }, 
+//       relationships: { country: { data: { type: 'countries', id: '2' } } } },
+//     { type: 'publishers', id: '3', attributes: { name: 'UK Books Ltd.' }, 
+//       relationships: { country: { data: { type: 'countries', id: '3' } } } },
+//     { type: 'publishers', id: '4', attributes: { name: 'Global Publishing' }, 
+//       relationships: { country: { data: null } } }
+//   ],
+//   included: [
+//     { type: 'countries', id: '1', attributes: { name: 'France', code: 'FR' } },
+//     { type: 'countries', id: '2', attributes: { name: 'Germany', code: 'DE' } },
+//     { type: 'countries', id: '3', attributes: { name: 'United Kingdom', code: 'UK' } }
+//   ]
+// }
+
+console.log('All Publishers with Countries (not simplified):', inspect(allPublishersWithCountriesNotSimplified));
+```
+
+Here is the expected output. Notice how the last call shows the non-simplified version of the response, which is muc more verbose. However, it has one _major_ advantage: it only includes the information about France _once_. It might seem like a small gain here, but when you have complex queries where the `belongsTo` table has a lot of data, the saving is much more evident.
+
+**Expected Output**
+
+```text
+Publisher with Country: {
+  id: '1',
+  name: 'French Books Inc.',
+  country_id: '1',
+  country: { id: '1', name: 'France', code: 'FR' }
+}
+All Publishers with Countries: {
+  data: [
+    {
+      id: '1',
+      name: 'French Books Inc.',
+      country_id: '1',
+      country: { id: '1', name: 'France', code: 'FR' }
+    },
+    {
+      id: '2',
+      name: 'Another French Books Inc.',
+      country_id: '1',
+      country: { id: '1', name: 'France', code: 'FR' }
+    },
+    {
+      id: '3',
+      name: 'UK Books Ltd.',
+    country_id: '3',
+    country: { id: '3', name: 'United Kingdom', code: 'UK' }
+  },
+  {
+    id: '4',
+    name: 'German Press GmbH',
+    country_id: '2',
+    country: { id: '2', name: 'Germany', code: 'DE' }
+  },
+    { id: '5', name: 'Global Publishing' }
+  ],
+  meta: {...},
+  links: {...}
+}
+All Publishers with Countries (not simplified): {
+  data: [
+    {
+      type: 'publishers',
+      id: '1',
+      attributes: { name: 'French Books Inc.' },
+      relationships: {
+        country: {
+          data: { type: 'countries', id: '1' },
+          links: {
+            self: '/api/1.0/publishers/1/relationships/country',
+            related: '/api/1.0/publishers/1/country'
+          }
+        }
+      },
+      links: { self: '/api/1.0/publishers/1' }
+    },
+    {
+      type: 'publishers',
+      id: '2',
+      attributes: { name: 'Another French Books Inc.' },
+      relationships: {
+        country: {
+          data: { type: 'countries', id: '1' },
+          links: {
+            self: '/api/1.0/publishers/2/relationships/country',
+            related: '/api/1.0/publishers/2/country'
+          }
+        }
+      },
+      links: { self: '/api/1.0/publishers/2' }
+    },
+    {
+      type: 'publishers',
+      id: '3',
+      attributes: { name: 'UK Books Ltd.' },
+      relationships: {
+        country: {
+          data: { type: 'countries', id: '3' },
+          links: {
+            self: '/api/1.0/publishers/3/relationships/country',
+            related: '/api/1.0/publishers/3/country'
+          }
+        }
+      },
+      links: { self: '/api/1.0/publishers/3' }
+    },
+    {
+      type: 'publishers',
+      id: '4',
+      attributes: { name: 'German Press GmbH' },
+      relationships: {
+        country: {
+          data: { type: 'countries', id: '2' },
+          links: {
+            self: '/api/1.0/publishers/4/relationships/country',
+          related: '/api/1.0/publishers/4/country'
+        }
+      },
+      links: { self: '/api/1.0/publishers/4' }
+    },
+    {
+      type: 'publishers',
+      id: '5',
+      attributes: { name: 'Global Publishing' },
+      relationships: {
+        country: {
+          data: null,
+          links: {
+            self: '/api/1.0/publishers/5/relationships/country',
+            related: '/api/1.0/publishers/5/country'
+          }
+        }
+      },
+      links: { self: '/api/1.0/publishers/5' }
+    }
+  ],
+  included: [
+    {
+      type: 'countries',
+      id: '1',
+      attributes: { name: 'France', code: 'FR' },
+      relationships: {},
+      links: { self: '/api/1.0/countries/1' }
+    },
+    {
+      type: 'countries',
+      id: '3',
+      attributes: { name: 'United Kingdom', code: 'UK' },
+      relationships: {},
+      links: { self: '/api/1.0/countries/3' }
+    },
+    {
+      type: 'countries',
+      id: '2',
+      attributes: { name: 'Germany', code: 'DE' },
+      relationships: {},
+      links: { self: '/api/1.0/countries/2' }
+    }
+  ],
+  links: { self: '/api/1.0/publishers?include=country' }
+}
+```
+
+---
+
+## Sparse Fieldsets with `belongsTo` Relations
+
+You can apply **sparse fieldsets** not only to the primary resource but also to the included `belongsTo` resources. This is powerful for fine-tuning your API responses and reducing payload sizes.
+
+### Programmatic Usage:
+
+```javascript
+// Re-add data for a fresh start (schemas are reused from above)
+
+const france = await api.resources.countries.post({ name: 'France', code: 'FR' });
+const germany = await api.resources.countries.post({ name: 'Germany', code: 'DE' });
+const uk = await api.resources.countries.post({ name: 'United Kingdom', code: 'UK' });
+
+await api.resources.publishers.post({ name: 'French Books Inc.', country: france.id });
+await api.resources.publishers.post({ name: 'UK Books Ltd.', country: uk.id });
+await api.resources.publishers.post({ name: 'German Press GmbH', country_id: germany.id });
+await api.resources.publishers.post({ name: 'Global Publishing', country_id: null });
+
+
+// Get a publisher, include its country, but only retrieve publisher name and country code
+const sparsePublisher = await api.resources.publishers.get({
+  id: '1',
+  queryParams: {
+    include: ['country'],
+    fields: {
+      publishers: 'name',       // Only name for publishers
+      countries: 'code'         // Only code for countries
+    }
+  }
+  // simplified: true is default for programmatic fetches
+});
+console.log('Sparse Publisher and Country:', inspect(sparsePublisher));
+
+
+// Query all publishers, include their countries, but only retrieve publisher name and country code
+const sparsePublishersQuery = await api.resources.publishers.query({
+  queryParams: {
+    include: ['country'],
+    fields: {
+      publishers: 'name',       // Only name for publishers
+      countries: 'code,name'    // BOTH code and name for countries
+    }
+  }
+  // simplified: true is default for programmatic fetches
+});
+// HTTP: GET /api/publishers?include=country&fields[publishers]=name&fields[countries]=code,name
+// Returns (simplified): [
+//   { id: '1', name: 'French Books Inc.', country: { id: '1', code: 'FR', name: 'France' } },
+//   { id: '2', name: 'German Press GmbH', country: { id: '2', code: 'DE', name: 'Germany' } },
+//   { id: '3', name: 'UK Books Ltd.', country: { id: '3', code: 'UK', name: 'United Kingdom' } },
+//   { id: '4', name: 'Global Publishing', country: null }
+// ]
+console.log('Sparse Publishers Query (all results):', inspect(sparsePublishersQuery));
+```
+
+Note that you can specify multiple fields for countries, and that they need to be comma separated.
+
+**Important Note on Sparse Fieldsets for Related Resources:**
+When you specify `fields: { countries: ['code'] }`, this instruction applies to *all* `country` resources present in the API response, whether `country` is the primary resource you are querying directly, or if it's included as a related resource. This ensures consistent data representation across the entire response.
+
+**Expected Output (Sparse Publisher and Country - Illustrative, IDs may vary):**
+
+```text
+{
+  id: '1',
+  name: 'French Books Inc.',
+  country_id: '1',
+  country: { id: '1', code: 'FR' }
+}
+Sparse Publishers Query (all results): {
+  data: [
+    {
+      id: '1',
+      name: 'French Books Inc.',
+      country_id: '1',
+      country: { id: '1', code: 'FR', name: 'France' }
+    },
+    {
+      id: '2',
+      name: 'UK Books Ltd.',
+      country_id: '3',
+      country: { id: '3', code: 'UK', name: 'United Kingdom' }
+    },
+    {
+      id: '3',
+      name: 'German Press GmbH',
+      country_id: '2',
+      country: { id: '2', code: 'DE', name: 'Germany' }
+    },
+    { id: '4', name: 'Global Publishing' }
+  ],
+  meta: {...},
+  links: {...}
+}
+```
+
+## Filtering by `belongsTo` Relationships
+
+You can filter resources based on conditions applied to their `belongsTo` relationships. This is achieved by defining filterable fields in the `searchSchema` that map to either the foreign key or fields on the related resource.
+
+The `searchSchema` offers a clean way to define filters, abstracting away the underlying database structure and relationship navigation from the client. Clients simply use the filter field names defined in `searchSchema` (e.g., `countryCode` instead of `country.code`).
+
+### Programmatic Usage:
+
+```javascript
+// Re-add data for a fresh start (schemas are reused from above)
+const france = await api.resources.countries.post({ name: 'France', code: 'FR' });
+const germany = await api.resources.countries.post({ name: 'Germany', code: 'DE' });
+const uk = await api.resources.countries.post({ name: 'United Kingdom', code: 'UK' });
+
+await api.resources.publishers.post({ name: 'French Books Inc.', country: france.id });
+await api.resources.publishers.post({ name: 'UK Books Ltd.', country: uk.id });
+await api.resources.publishers.post({ name: 'German Press GmbH', country_id: germany.id });
+await api.resources.publishers.post({ name: 'Global Publishing', country_id: null });
+
+
+// Programmatic search: Find publishers from France using the country ID alias in searchSchema
+const publishersFromFrance = await api.resources.publishers.query({
+  queryParams: {
+    filters: {
+      country: france.id // Using 'country' filter field defined in searchSchema
+    }
+  }
+  // simplified: true is default for programmatic fetches
+});
+// HTTP: GET /api/publishers?filter[country]=1
+// Returns: {
+//   data: [{ id: '1', name: 'French Books Inc.', country_id: '1' }]
+// }
+
+console.log('Publishers from France (by country ID):', inspect(publishersFromFrance));
+// Note: publishersFromFrance contains { data, meta, links }
+// Note: publishersFromFrance contains { data, meta, links } - access publishersFromFrance.data for the array
+
+// Programmatic search: Find publishers with no associated country
+const publishersNoCountry = await api.resources.publishers.query({
+  queryParams: {
+    filters: {
+      country: null // Filtering by null for the 'country' ID filter
+    }
+  }
+  // simplified: true is default for programmatic fetches
+});
+// HTTP: GET /api/publishers?filter[country]=null
+// Returns: {
+//   data: [{ id: '4', name: 'Global Publishing', country_id: null }]
+// }
+
+console.log('Publishers with No Country (by country ID: null):', inspect(publishersNoCountry));
+// Note: publishersNoCountry contains { data, meta, links }
+
+// Programmatic search: Find publishers where the associated country's code is 'UK'
+const publishersFromUK = await api.resources.publishers.query({
+  queryParams: {
+    filters: {
+      countryCode: 'UK' // Using 'countryCode' filter field defined in searchSchema
+    }
+  }
+  // simplified: true is default for programmatic fetches
+});
+// HTTP: GET /api/publishers?filter[countryCode]=UK
+// Returns: {
+//   data: [{ id: '3', name: 'UK Books Ltd.', country_id: '3' }]
+// }
+
+console.log('Publishers from UK (by countryCode):', inspect(publishersFromUK));
+```
+
+**Expected Output**
+
+```text
+Publishers from France (by country ID): [ { id: '1', name: 'French Books Inc.', country_id: '1' } ]
+Publishers with No Country (by country ID: null): [ { id: '4', name: 'Global Publishing' } ]
+Publishers from UK (by countryCode): [ { id: '2', name: 'UK Books Ltd.', country_id: '3' } ]
+```
+
+---
+
+[Previous: 2.2 Manipulating and searching tables with no relationships](./GUIDE_2_2_Manipulating_And_Searching_Tables.md) | [Back to Guide](./README.md) | [Next: 2.4 hasMany records](./GUIDE_2_4_HasMany_Records.md)