Django rest framework, use different serializers in the same ModelViewSet

Question

I would like to provide two different serializers and yet be able to benefit from all the facilities of ModelViewSet:

• When viewing a list of objects, I would like each object to have an url which redirects to its details and every other relation appear using __unicode __ of the target model;

example:

{   "url": "http://127.0.0.1:8000/database/gruppi/2/",   "nome": "universitari",   "descrizione": "unitn!",   "creatore": "emilio",   "accesso": "CHI",   "membri": [     "emilio",     "michele",     "luisa",     "ivan",     "saverio"   ] } 

• When viewing the details of an object, I would like to use the default HyperlinkedModelSerializer

example:

{   "url": "http://127.0.0.1:8000/database/gruppi/2/",   "nome": "universitari",   "descrizione": "unitn!",   "creatore": "http://127.0.0.1:8000/database/utenti/3/",   "accesso": "CHI",   "membri": [     "http://127.0.0.1:8000/database/utenti/3/",     "http://127.0.0.1:8000/database/utenti/4/",     "http://127.0.0.1:8000/database/utenti/5/",     "http://127.0.0.1:8000/database/utenti/6/",     "http://127.0.0.1:8000/database/utenti/7/"   ] } 

I managed to make all this work as I wish in the following way:

serializers.py

# serializer to use when showing a list class ListaGruppi(serializers.HyperlinkedModelSerializer):     membri = serializers.RelatedField(many = True)     creatore = serializers.RelatedField(many = False)      class Meta:         model = models.Gruppi  # serializer to use when showing the details class DettaglioGruppi(serializers.HyperlinkedModelSerializer):     class Meta:         model = models.Gruppi 

views.py

class DualSerializerViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):     """     ViewSet providing different serializers for list and detail views.      Use list_serializer and detail_serializer to provide them     """     def list(self, *args, **kwargs):         self.serializer_class = self.list_serializer         return viewsets.ModelViewSet.list(self, *args, **kwargs)      def retrieve(self, *args, **kwargs):         self.serializer_class = self.detail_serializer         return viewsets.ModelViewSet.retrieve(self, *args, **kwargs)  class GruppiViewSet(DualSerializerViewSet):     model = models.Gruppi     list_serializer = serializers.ListaGruppi     detail_serializer = serializers.DettaglioGruppi      # etc. 

Basically I detect when the user is requesting a list view or a detailed view and change serializer_class to suit my needs. I am not really satisfied with this code though, it looks like a dirty hack and, most importantly, what if two users request a list and a detail at the same moment?

Is there a better way to achieve this using ModelViewSets or do I have to fall back using GenericAPIView?

EDIT:
Here's how to do it using a custom base ModelViewSet:

class MultiSerializerViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):     serializers = {          'default': None,     }      def get_serializer_class(self):             return self.serializers.get(self.action,                         self.serializers['default'])  class GruppiViewSet(MultiSerializerViewSet):     model = models.Gruppi      serializers = {         'list':    serializers.ListaGruppi,         'detail':  serializers.DettaglioGruppi,         # etc.     } 

Answer 1

Override your get_serializer_class method. This method is used in your model mixins to retrieve the proper Serializer class.

Note that there is also a get_serializer method which returns an instance of the correct Serializer

class DualSerializerViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):     def get_serializer_class(self):         if self.action == 'list':             return serializers.ListaGruppi         if self.action == 'retrieve':             return serializers.DettaglioGruppi         return serializers.Default # I dont' know what you want for create/destroy/update.