The `php artisan install:api` command in Laravel 11 serves several key purposes related to setting up API functionality within a new Laravel application. Here are the main functions of this command:
1. Creates the `api.php` Route File: This command generates the `routes/api.php` file, which is where you can define your API routes. This file is configured to work with the `api` middleware group, allowing for stateless API requests.
2. Installs Laravel Sanctum: The command sets up Laravel Sanctum, which is a simple package for API token authentication. This allows you to easily implement token-based authentication for your API, making it suitable for SPAs (Single Page Applications) and mobile applications.
3. Sets Up a Database Migration for Personal Access Tokens: It creates a migration file necessary for managing personal access tokens, which are used for authenticating users via the API.
4. Configures Sanctum: The command also generates a configuration file for Sanctum, ensuring that the necessary settings are in place for it to function correctly within your application[1][2][4].
Overall, this command streamlines the process of preparing a Laravel application for API development, making it easier for developers to get started with building APIs.
Citations:[1] https://laravel-news.com/api-versioning-in-laravel-11
[2] https://laraveldaily.com/post/laravel-11-main-new-features-changes
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agUnf89SAOg
[4] https://laracasts.com/series/whats-new-in-laravel-11/episodes/4
[5] https://laravel.com/docs/11.x/installation