What Are Types and Actions?
Types in Amplication primarily refer to Data Transfer Objects (DTOs). They are custom data structures that define the shape of data moving in and out of your APIs. DTOs specify the fields and their types for your API’s input and output, creating clear contracts for data exchange. You’ll work with two categories of types:- DTOs: Custom data structures composed of fields
- Primitives: Basic data types like
String,Integer,Boolean,Date, andJSON
- Default CRUD Actions: Amplication automatically creates standard Create, Read, Update, and Delete operations for your data entities
- Custom Actions: Your custom-defined endpoints for specific business logic beyond CRUD operations
Access Custom Types & Actions
Navigate to APIs Tab
Explore the APIs Tab
The APIs tab where you can access Custom Types & Actions
Modules
Modules help you organize your DTOs and Actions into logical units. While Amplication creates default Modules for each database entity, you can also create custom Modules to group related functionality.Create Module
Create Module
Go to All Modules
Add New Module
Name Your Module
Finalize Creation
Creating a new module in Amplication
Edit Module
Edit Module
Select Module to Edit
Open Edit Mode
Modify Module Details
Editing an existing module
Delete Module
Delete Module
Select Module to Delete
Open Edit Mode
Initiate Deletion
Confirm Deletion
Deleting a module
DTOs and Enums
DTOs (Data Transfer Objects) and Enums are essential building blocks for creating type-safe APIs. DTOs encapsulate data structures that flow between your service layers, ensuring consistent data validation and transformation, while Enums define a fixed set of named constants that represent discrete values.Create DTO
Create DTO
Start DTO Creation
Name and Describe DTO
Setting up DTO name and description
Add Properties
Configure Properties
- Specify the Name.
- Choose the Type (Primitive, DTO, or Enum).
- Toggle “Array” if it’s an array.
- Check “Optional” if it’s optional.
Adding properties to a DTO
Create Enum
Create Enum
Start Enum Creation
Name and Describe Enum
Add Members
Configure Members
- Specify the Name.
- Provide the Value.
Edit DTO or Enum
Edit DTO or Enum
To edit an existing DTO or Enum, simply click on its name within its associated Module in the APIs tab. You can then modify its properties, members, name, or description as needed.
Actions
Actions define the API contract between your service and its consumers, specifying how data flows in and out of your system. Each Action maps to a specific endpoint (REST) or operation (GraphQL), with clear input/output types, enabling strong typing throughout your service stack while automatically generating the necessary routing, validation, and controller code.Create Action
Create Action
Start Action Creation
Name and Describe Action
Creating a new action
Choose Types
- Select an Input Type (DTO or Primitive) for the request.
- Select an Output Type (DTO or Primitive) for the response.
Configuring action input and output types
Configure REST API Settings (If Applicable)
- Choose the HTTP Verb.
- Specify the Route.
- Select the Input Source.
Setting up REST API configuration
Configure GraphQL API Settings (If Applicable)
- Choose the Operation Type.
Configuring GraphQL settings
Enable and Disable Actions
Enable and Disable Actions
Amplication provides a clear overview of all Actions within each Module. You can easily enable or disable Actions using the toggle switch next to their names.
Managing action visibility
Edit and Delete Action
Edit and Delete Action
To edit an Action, click on its name to modify its properties and settings. To delete a Custom Action, click the delete button next to its name.