> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/spatie/laravel-data/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Traits and Interfaces

> Understand the modular architecture of Laravel Data through traits and interfaces

Laravel Data is built to be flexible through a modular system of traits and interfaces. This allows you to create custom base data classes with exactly the functionality you need.

## The Base Data Class

The `Data` class you've been using is actually a composition of multiple traits and interfaces:

```php theme={null}
use Illuminate\Contracts\Support\Responsable;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\AppendableData;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\BaseData;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\ContextableData;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\EmptyData;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\IncludeableData;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\ResponsableData;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\TransformableData;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\ValidateableData;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\WrappableData;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\AppendableData as AppendableDataContract;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\BaseData as BaseDataContract;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\EmptyData as EmptyDataContract;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\IncludeableData as IncludeableDataContract;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\ResponsableData as ResponsableDataContract;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\TransformableData as TransformableDataContract;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\ValidateableData as ValidateableDataContract;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\WrappableData as WrappableDataContract;

abstract class Data implements 
    Responsable, 
    AppendableDataContract, 
    BaseDataContract, 
    TransformableDataContract, 
    IncludeableDataContract, 
    ResponsableDataContract, 
    ValidateableDataContract, 
    WrappableDataContract, 
    EmptyDataContract
{
    use ResponsableData;
    use IncludeableData;
    use AppendableData;
    use ValidateableData;
    use WrappableData;
    use TransformableData;
    use BaseData;
    use EmptyData;
    use ContextableData;
}
```

## Available Traits and Interfaces

Each interface and corresponding trait provides specific functionality:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="BaseData">
    Provides the base functionality to create data objects.

    **Interface**: `Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\BaseData`\
    **Trait**: `Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\BaseData`

    This is the core functionality that enables:

    * Creating data objects from various sources
    * The `from()` method
    * Magic creation methods
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="BaseDataCollectable">
    Provides base functionality to create data collections.

    **Interface**: `Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\BaseDataCollectable`\
    **Trait**: `Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\BaseDataCollectable`

    Enables collection operations for data objects.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="ContextableData">
    Provides context functionality for includes and wraps.

    **Trait**: `Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\ContextableData`

    Manages transformation context like includes, excludes, wraps, etc.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="IncludeableData">
    Provides functionality to add includes, excludes, only, and except.

    **Interface**: `Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\IncludeableData`\
    **Trait**: `Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\IncludeableData`

    Enables:

    * `->include('property')`
    * `->exclude('property')`
    * `->only('property')`
    * `->except('property')`
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="TransformableData">
    Provides functionality to transform data objects.

    **Interface**: `Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\TransformableData`\
    **Trait**: `Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\TransformableData`

    Enables:

    * `->toArray()`
    * `->toJson()`
    * Transformation to various formats
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="ResponsableData">
    Provides functionality to return data objects as HTTP responses.

    **Interface**: `Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\ResponsableData`\
    **Trait**: `Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\ResponsableData`

    Allows returning data objects directly from controllers.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="WrappableData">
    Provides functionality to wrap transformed data.

    **Interface**: `Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\WrappableData`\
    **Trait**: `Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\WrappableData`

    Enables:

    * `->wrap('data')`
    * Custom wrapping keys
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="AppendableData">
    Provides functionality to append data to transformed payloads.

    **Interface**: `Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\AppendableData`\
    **Trait**: `Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\AppendableData`

    Enables:

    * `->additional(['key' => 'value'])`
    * Appending extra data to responses
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="EmptyData">
    Provides functionality to get an empty version of the data object.

    **Interface**: `Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\EmptyData`\
    **Trait**: `Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\EmptyData`

    Enables:

    * `::empty()`
    * Creating empty data objects
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="ValidateableData">
    Provides functionality to validate data objects.

    **Interface**: `Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\ValidateableData`\
    **Trait**: `Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\ValidateableData`

    Enables:

    * `::validate($data)`
    * `::getValidationRules($data)`
    * Automatic validation
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="DeprecatableData">
    Provides functionality for deprecated features.

    **Interface**: `Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\DeprecatableData`\
    **Trait**: `Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\DeprecatableData`

    Supports backward compatibility features.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Creating Custom Base Classes

You can create your own base data classes with specific functionality:

### Example: Minimal Data Class

Create a data class with only creation and transformation:

```php theme={null}
use Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\BaseData;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\TransformableData;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\BaseData as BaseDataContract;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\TransformableData as TransformableDataContract;

abstract class MinimalData implements BaseDataContract, TransformableDataContract
{
    use BaseData;
    use TransformableData;
}
```

### Example: API Resource Class

Create a data class optimized for API resources:

```php theme={null}
use Illuminate\Contracts\Support\Responsable;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\BaseData;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\IncludeableData;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\ResponsableData;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\TransformableData;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\WrappableData;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\BaseData as BaseDataContract;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\IncludeableData as IncludeableDataContract;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\ResponsableData as ResponsableDataContract;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\TransformableData as TransformableDataContract;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\WrappableData as WrappableDataContract;

abstract class Resource implements 
    Responsable,
    BaseDataContract, 
    TransformableDataContract,
    IncludeableDataContract,
    ResponsableDataContract,
    WrappableDataContract
{
    use BaseData;
    use TransformableData;
    use IncludeableData;
    use ResponsableData;
    use WrappableData;
}
```

### Example: DTO Class

Create a data class for DTOs without HTTP concerns:

```php theme={null}
use Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\BaseData;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Concerns\ValidateableData;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\BaseData as BaseDataContract;
use Spatie\LaravelData\Contracts\ValidateableData as ValidateableDataContract;

abstract class Dto implements BaseDataContract, ValidateableDataContract
{
    use BaseData;
    use ValidateableData;
}
```

## Built-in Custom Classes

The package includes two custom base classes:

* **Resource** - Optimized for API resources with transformation and response features
* **Dto** - Optimized for data transfer objects with validation

Use these as starting points or create your own custom base classes.