toArray

Convert a model instance into a plain JS object — combining its attributes with its loaded relations. The recursive opposite of Fill / SetRawAttributes. Used by toJSON() and JSON-serialised whenever a model is passed through JSON.stringify.

Signature

model.ToArray(): Record<string, any>

Returns

A plain object containing:

• All attributes from attributesToArray() — applies casts, accessors, and date formatting.
• All loaded relations from relationsToArray() — recursively toArray()d.

Hidden attributes (declared in _hidden) are omitted. Visible attributes (_visible) take precedence when set.

Real-World Use Cases

1. Serialise for an HTTP response

app.get('/users/:id', async (req, res) => {
  const user = await User.createQuery().find(req.params.id);
  if (!user) return res.status(404).end();
  res.json(user.ToArray()); // — or just `res.json(user)`, JSON.stringify uses toJSON()
});

2. With eager-loaded relations

const user = await User.createQuery().with('posts').find(1);
const json = user.ToArray();
// {
//   id: 1,
//   name: 'Ada',
//   posts: [
//     { id: 10, title: '...', body: '...' },
//     ...
//   ]
// }

The posts array is itself an array of ToArray() outputs.

3. Hide sensitive fields

@Table({ tableName: 'users' })
class User extends Model {
  _hidden = ['password_hash', 'remember_token'];

  @Column() declare password_hash: string;
}

const user = await User.createQuery().find(1);
user.ToArray(); // password_hash and remember_token are gone

4. Whitelist specific fields

@Table({ tableName: 'users' })
class User extends Model {
  _visible = ['id', 'email'];
}

_visible is the inverse of _hidden — only listed columns appear.

5. Override per-call with MakeVisible / MakeHidden

const user = await User.createQuery().find(1);
const debug = user.MakeVisible(['password_hash']).ToArray();
// `password_hash` included on this view only

6. Casts and accessors

@Table({ tableName: 'users' })
class User extends Model {
  @JsonColumn() declare preferences: any;
  @CreatedAtColumn() declare created_at: Date;
}

const u = await User.createQuery().find(1);
u.ToArray();
// {
//   id: 1,
//   preferences: { theme: 'dark' }, // parsed JSON
//   created_at: '2026-05-07T...',   // ISO string from the date cast
// }

7. Implicit via JSON.stringify

JSON.stringify(model) calls toJSON(), which calls ToArray():

const body = JSON.stringify(user);

Express / Nest controllers that return a model trigger this automatically when they call res.json(...) / JSON.stringify(...).

ToArray vs getAttributes vs _attributes

Tool	Includes relations	Applies casts/accessors	Respects _hidden/_visible
model.ToArray()	✓	✓	✓
model.AttributesToArray()	✗	✓	✓
model.GetAttributes()	✗	✗	✗ — raw stored values

For internal serialization (logging full state), use getAttributes. For API responses, use ToArray.

Common Pitfalls

• Loaded relations are recursive. A circular relation graph will recurse forever — fedaco doesn't detect cycles. Avoid loading both sides of a self-referential pivot.
• Hidden vs visible: when both are set, _visible wins.
• Date format depends on the connection's grammar — usually ISO. Override serializeDate on the model if you need custom output.

See Also

• toJSON — alias for JSON.stringify(toArray()).
• makeHidden / makeVisible — per-instance overrides.
• getAttribute — read one attribute (with casts/accessors).
• fresh — reload a fresh model from the database.