Learning DRF: Serialize models in a group - django

Question

I'm new to both Django and DRF. I need to expose the following JSON via GET, but I seem to be having trouble getting each class to be a part of classes []. I belive I can use StringRelatedField for this, but the examples I have found don't seem to click with me. Thanks in advance!
expected output
{
"classes":[
{
"id":24,
"name":"Math 101",
"starts_on":"2016-08-09",
"ends_on":"2016-08-14",
"entries_url":"https://example.com/classes/24/classes.json"
},
{
"id":23,
"name":"English 101",
"starts_on":"2016-07-28",
"ends_on":"2016-07-30",
"entries_url":"https://example.com/classes/23/classes.json"
}
]
}
Here's what I've cobbled together. "nr" is just a throwaway variable as I don't actually want any data besides what comes from class.
model.py
class Class(models.Model):
id = models.CharField(max_length=10)
starts_on = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=False)
ends_on = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=False)
entries_url = models.CharField(max_length=150)
class Meta:
ordering = ('id',)
class Classes(models.Model):
nr = models.CharField(max_length=100)
serializers.py
class ClassesSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
class = serializers.StringRelatedField(many=True)
class Meta:
model = Classes
fields = ('classes')

Answer 1

Your database needs to keep a relation between your tables. You can use a foreign key here:
class Class(models.Model):
id = models.CharField(max_length=10)
starts_on = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=False)
ends_on = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=False)
entries_url = models.CharField(max_length=150)
related_classes = models.ForeignKey('Classes', on_delete=models.CASCADE, related_name='classes')
class Meta:
ordering = ('id',)
class Classes(models.Model):
nr = models.CharField(max_length=100)
Then, your serializer becomes:
class ClassSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
class Meta:
model = Class
fields = ['__all__']
class ClassesSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
classes = ClassSerializer(many=True)
class Meta:
model = Classes
fields = ('classes',)
Also, I strongly discourage you to use class for your variables, since it clashes with the class keyword of Python.