Saloon is a PHP library that provides a fluent API integration framework. It can be a great tool for developers implementing API integrations with third-party APIs or building SDKs. In this article, I am going to talk about some of the key features of this library and why I strongly recommend Saloon for any project where an integration with third-party API is required.

Key features and benefits

Saloon comes with an object oriented syntax which allows us to architect our API integration much better. It allows you to create classes and manage requests and their business logic separate.

Saloon also comes with an HTTP wrapper in the form of Guzzle (which we can customise for Laravel). This wrapper exposes easy to use methods which makes API request easy to manage. We don’t need to communicate using a lower level code, thus allowing us just focus on the business logic and not worry about the underlying tricky parts of HTTP requests.

It’s built as a framework agnostic library, which means you just need compose to utilise the power of this library. And, it also comes with a flavour specifically for Laravel.

Powerful developer experience

Connector vs Request

Saloon simplifies the management of integration code by organizing it into separate class files. It introduces the concept of Integrations, which consist of Connectors. Connectors are classes that handle the necessary details of an API integration, such as passing access tokens or API keys.

By utilizing Connectors, you can define the business logic required for connecting to an API. This includes tasks like adding headers or passing parameters in the URL. When making requests using a Connector, all the necessary details are automatically included in the payload.

With Saloon, you can create individual Request classes for each API route, ensuring that the code specific to each integration is encapsulated in its own class. This architectural approach allows for a clean and scalable integration with third-party APIs, promoting a clear and organized coding style.

Support for multiple body types for POST request

Laravel Saloon goes beyond the standard form data support for POST requests. It enables developers to send requests with different body types, such as JSON, XML, or plain text. This flexibility is invaluable when working with various APIs that require specific content types.

By supporting multiple body types, Laravel Saloon simplifies data exchange between systems and enhances interoperability. Developers can easily adapt to the requirements of different APIs without cumbersome conversions or workarounds.

Authentication

Authentication is a fundamental aspect to any third party API integration. Laravel Saloon provides robust support for it. With built-in authentication features, developers can easily handle user authentication and authorisation. Whether it’s passing a Basic auth header, a bearer token, JWT or something else, Laravel Saloon has our back so that we don’t have to worry.

Data Transfer Object (DTO)

Data Transfer Objects (DTOs) are objects used to encapsulate and transfer data between different layers of an application. Laravel Saloon embraces the concept of DTOs and offers built-in support for them.

By utilizing DTOs, developers can define structured data models that facilitate efficient communication between the client and server. This promotes cleaner and more maintainable code, as data validation, transformation, and serialization are encapsulated within the DTOs.

And it also allows the developers to very clearly define the share of the data that is being expected and hence the Types can be easily understood.

Pagination

Managing large datasets efficiently is crucial for many web applications. Laravel Saloon simplifies pagination by providing built-in pagination methods. Any API which provides with a lot of records, will force you to implement a pagination logic.

Developers can easily paginate query results and handle data pagination in a user-friendly manner. Laravel Saloon takes care of generating pagination links and simplifies the retrieval of paginated data, saving developers from the tedious task of implementing pagination logic from scratch.

Final thoughts

Laravel Saloon is a feature-rich library that provides developers with a powerful toolkit for building web applications. Its intuitive syntax, extensive feature set, and focus on developer experience make it an ideal choice for both small projects and large-scale applications. Whether you are a seasoned developer or just starting your journey, Laravel Saloon empowers you to create efficient and robust web applications with ease. So why not give it a try and experience the power of Laravel Saloon for yourself?

And if you are a visual learner, you can check this Youtube playlist which has videos on how you can use Laravel Saloon.