# Resource DTOs

If you want to use DTOs to wrap, type and transform your API responses, you can use the `ResourceDTO` class. This class will have the same features as the `SimpleDTO` class and will implement the `Illuminate\Contracts\Support\Responsable` interface:

```php
class UserResourceDTO extends ResourceDTO
{
    public string $name;
    public string $email;
    public int $age;
    // Your DTO methods...
}
```

Then you can return your DTOs from your controllers:

```php
class UserController extends Controller
{
    public function show(int $id)
    {
        return UserResourceDTO::fromModel(User::findOrFail($id));
    }
}
```

You can also return a collection/list of your DTOs as a response using the `ResourceDTO::collection()` method:

```php
class UserController extends Controller
{
    public function index()
    {
        return UserResourceDTO::collection(User::all());
    }
}
```

This way every item in the collection will be converted to a `UserResourceDTO` instance before sending the response to the client, using all the typing, casting and mapping features of your DTO class.

To generate a `ResourceDTO` you can use the `--resource` flag:

```bash
php artisan make:dto UserResourceDTO --resource
```


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://wendell-adriel.gitbook.io/laravel-validated-dto/basics/resource-dtos.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.