Active Model Serializer not working with json_api adapter

Question

I am trying to use custom serializers for the relationships in a serializer and the json_api adapter enabled. However the relationships are not serialized correctly (or, better, not at all displayed/serialized).

PostController.rb

def index
  render json: Post.all, each_serializer: Serializers::PostSerializer
end

Serializer

module Api
  module V1
    module Serializers
      class PostSerializer < ActiveModel::Serializer
        attributes :title, :id

        belongs_to :author, serializer: UserSerializer
        has_many :post_sections, serializer: PostSectionSerializer
      end
    end
  end
end

JSON output:

{
    "data": [
        {
            "attributes": {
                "title": "Test Title"
            },
            "id": "1",
            "relationships": {
                "author": {
                    "data": {
                        "id": "1",
                        "type": "users"
                    }
                },
                "post_sections": {
                    "data": [
                        {
                            "id": "1",
                            "type": "post_sections"
                        }
                    ]
                }
            },
            "type": "posts"
        }
    ]
}

As you can see, the relationships are not fulfilled, which happens only if I specify a custom serializer for the relationships!!

If I do something like this:

module Api
  module V1
    module Serializers
      class PostSerializer < ActiveModel::Serializer
        attributes :title, :id

        belongs_to :author # no custom serializer!
        has_many :post_sections # no custom serializer!
      end
    end
  end
end

The relationships are shown correctly, but not using a custom serializer... What's the issue here ?

EDIT

According to the json API 1.0 Format, what I am getting back is the so-called resource identifier object.

The following primary data is a single resource identifier object that references the same resource:

{ "data": { "type": "articles", "id": "1" } }

Is there a way to prevent getting resource identifier objects, and get the actual data instead ?

Bruno Bacarini Bruno Bacarini · Accepted Answer · 2015-08-17T14:09:37

Relationships only returns id and type according to json-api exmaples. If you need to return more information about this relation you should add include option on your render action.

Ex.

PostController.rb

class PostsController < ApplicationController
  def show
    render json: @post, include: 'comments'
  end
end

Serializers

class PostSerializer < ActiveModel::Serializer
  attributes :id, :title, :content
  has_many :comment, serializer: CommentSerializer
end

class CommentSerializer < ActiveModel::Serializer
  attributes :id, :title, :content
end

JSON output:

{
    "data": {
        "id": "1",
        "type": "post",
        "attributes": {
            "title": "bla",
            "content": "bla"
        },
        "relationships": {
            "comment": {
                "data": [
                    {
                        "type": "comments",
                        "id": "1"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    },
    "included": {
        {
            "id": "1",
            "type": "comments",
            "attributes": {
                "title": "test",
                "content": "test"
            }
        }
    ]
}

Active Model Serializer not working with json_api adapter

EDIT

2 Answers