Return original data type (Collection) from another application using GuzzleClient in Laravel

Question

I have a problem when retrieve the returned data from another application using GuzzleClient. For example, in the First Application, I call to Second application test function to get the returned data as Collective data type, however I have not idea how to do that. I try to json_decode the response in call_another_server function but it will become array, if i not using json_decode, it will just return as a string.

First Application

public function call_another_server()
{
  $client = new GuzzleClient();
  $url = 'http://127.0.0.1:1111/testing'; ##### This url will call to second application@test() function
  $response  = $client->request('GET', $url);

  $data = json_decode($response->getBody()->getContents(), true);//retrieve the response data and decode it as array
  dd($response);
}

Second Application

public function test()
{
    $array = ["1" => "one", "2" => "two"];
    return (collect($array)); ##### return as collective
}

Returned Result (in call_another_server, dd($response) )

Expected Result ( returned as Collection )

Can anyone can guide me how to return as my expected result in call_another_server function? I know I can manipulate the response in call_another_server using collect helper to make the response become Collection type. But I hope I can just retrieve the original data type from test function. Any guidance and suggestion is appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

You can not retrieve the Collection you want that way. Because when you return (collect($array)) your app is casting your Collection to array, and then convert it to json (for json response).

To avoid casting to array you can serialize your Collection, and then send the serialized data (being string now) as response.

So :

1. First Application

public function call_another_server()
{
  [...]

  $data = unserialize($response->getBody()->getContents());//unserialize retrieved data
  dd($data);
}

2. Second Application

public function test()
{
    [...]
    return serialize(__YOUR_COLLECTION_HERE__); // return serialized collection
}

BUT WARNING :

• First: Take note of warnings about unserializing foreign data (see https://www.php.net/manual/en/function.unserialize.php)

... Do not pass untrusted user input to unserialize() ...

• Second: to properly unserialize received data, you have in the two apps the same Collection class (for example Illuminate\Support\Collection). Also valid for any object class contained in the collection data eventually.