How do I create multiple model instances with Django Rest Framework?

Question

I would like to save and update multiple instances using the Django Rest Framework with one API call. For example, let's say I have a "Classroom" model that can have multiple "Teachers". If I wanted to create multiple teachers and later update all of their classroom numbers how would I do that? Do I have to make an API call for each teacher?

I know currently we can't save nested models, but I would like to know if we can save it at the teacher level. Thanks!

Answer 1

I know this was asked a while ago now but I found it whilst trying to figure this out myself.

It turns out if you pass many=True when instantiating the serializer class for a model, it can then accept multiple objects.

This is mentioned here in the django rest framework docs

For my case, my view looked like this:

class ThingViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
    """This view provides list, detail, create, retrieve, update
    and destroy actions for Things."""
    model = Thing
    serializer_class = ThingSerializer

I didn't really want to go writing a load of boilerplate just to have direct control over the instantiation of the serializer and pass many=True, so in my serializer class I override the __init__ instead:

class ThingSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
        many = kwargs.pop('many', True)
        super(ThingSerializer, self).__init__(many=many, *args, **kwargs)

    class Meta:
        model = Thing
        fields = ('loads', 'of', 'fields', )

Posting data to the list URL for this view in the format:

[
    {'loads':'foo','of':'bar','fields':'buzz'},
    {'loads':'fizz','of':'bazz','fields':'errrrm'}
]

Created two resources with those details. Which was nice.

Answer 2

I came to a similar conclusion as Daniel Albarral, but here's a more succinct solution:

class CreateListModelMixin(object):

    def get_serializer(self, *args, **kwargs):
        """ if an array is passed, set serializer to many """
        if isinstance(kwargs.get('data', {}), list):
            kwargs['many'] = True
        return super(CreateListModelMixin, self).get_serializer(*args, **kwargs)

Answer 3

Here's another solution, you don't need to override your serializers __init__ method. Just override your view's (ModelViewSet) 'create' method. Notice many=isinstance(request.data,list). Here many=True when you send an array of objects to create, and False when you send just the one. This way, you can save both an item and a list!

from rest_framework import status, viewsets
from rest_framework.response import Response

class ThingViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):

"""This view snippet provides both list and item create functionality."""

    #I took the liberty to change the model to queryset
    queryset = Thing.objects.all()
    serializer_class = ThingSerializer

    def create(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
        serializer = self.get_serializer(data=request.data, many=isinstance(request.data,list))
        serializer.is_valid(raise_exception=True)
        self.perform_create(serializer)
        headers = self.get_success_headers(serializer.data)
        return Response(serializer.data, status=status.HTTP_201_CREATED, headers=headers)

Answer 4

I couldn't quite figure out getting the request.DATA to convert from a dictionary to an array - which was a limit on my ability to Tom Manterfield's solution to work. Here is my solution:

class ThingSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
        many = kwargs.pop('many', True)
        super(ThingSerializer, self).__init__(many=many, *args, **kwargs)

    class Meta:
        model = Thing
        fields = ('loads', 'of', 'fields', )

class ThingViewSet(mixins.CreateModelMixin, viewsets.GenericViewSet ):
    queryset = myModels\
        .Thing\
        .objects\
        .all()
    serializer_class = ThingSerializer

    def create(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
        self.user = request.user
        listOfThings = request.DATA['things']

        serializer = self.get_serializer(data=listOfThings, files=request.FILES, many=True)
        if serializer.is_valid():
            serializer.save()
            headers = self.get_success_headers(serializer.data)
            return Response(serializer.data, status=status.HTTP_201_CREATED,
                            headers=headers)

        return Response(serializer.errors, status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)

And then I run the equivalent of this on the client:

var things = {    
    "things":[
        {'loads':'foo','of':'bar','fields':'buzz'},
        {'loads':'fizz','of':'bazz','fields':'errrrm'}]
}
thingClientResource.post(things)