What is content negotiation in PHP?

It's HTTP letting servers serve different formats (HTML/JSON) from one URL based on client headers like Accept.

How to add content negotiation to Laravel?

Use $request->expectsJson() in controller: return json() or view() based on it. One route, done.

Does Symfony content negotiation support XML too?

Yes, declare formats in route (html|json|xml), getPreferredFormat() handles it smoothly.

Your Dusty PHP Site Is Already a Free API—Wake It Up

Stop building pointless APIs. Your PHP website's endpoints are begging to serve JSON too. Content negotiation—forgotten HTTP magic from '96—saves you months of drudgery.

theAIcatchup Apr 08, 2026 3 min read

PHP code snippet implementing content negotiation for product catalog API

⚡ Key Takeaways

Reuse your PHP website endpoints as APIs via content negotiation—no duplicate code. 𝕏
Symfony and Laravel make it trivial with Accept header checks. 𝕏
Saves months of dev time; hidden gem from HTTP 1996 still crushes modern hype. 𝕏

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theAIcatchup

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#API #API development #HTTP headers #Laravel #PHP #PHP API #Symfony #content negotiation

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Originally reported by dev.to

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