title: How to create a REST JSON API using Laravel 5.5 or Laravel 5.4
body: <p>Am just starting out with laravel and i wanted to create a simple rest api that accepts json data and returns a json data but didnt seem to know how to do this. I was wondering if anyone could help.
  below is what i want my controller to look like or do:</p>
  
  <pre><code>class MembersController extends Controller
  {
      /**
       * Display a listing of the resource.
       *
       * @return \Illuminate\Http\Response
       */
      public function index()
      {
          //return all members as json
      }
  
      /**
       * Show the form for creating a new resource.
       *
       * @return \Illuminate\Http\Response
       */
      public function create()
      {
          //leave this as empty
      }
  
      /**
       * Store a newly created resource in storage.
       *
       * @param  \Illuminate\Http\Request  $request
       * @return \Illuminate\Http\Response
       */
      public function store(Request $request)
      {
          // get user values as json
          // save value to database
         // return user data as json.
      }
  
      /**
       * Display the specified resource.
       *
       * @param  int  $id
       * @return \Illuminate\Http\Response
       */
      public function show($id)
      {
          //return single user dat as json
      }
  
      /**
       * Show the form for editing the specified resource.
       *
       * @param  int  $id
       * @return \Illuminate\Http\Response
       */
      public function edit($id)
      {
          //leave as empty
      }
  
      /**
       * Update the specified resource in storage.
       *
       * @param  \Illuminate\Http\Request  $request
       * @param  int  $id
       * @return \Illuminate\Http\Response
       */
      public function update(Request $request, $id)
      {
          //update value and return as json
      }
  
      /**
       * Remove the specified resource from storage.
       *
       * @param  int  $id
       * @return \Illuminate\Http\Response
       */
      public function destroy($id)
      {
          //delete value and also return deleted value as json
      }
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>How can i achieve the above using laravel. Mostly 5.5 or 5.4.
  I dont seem to find anything that could be of help anywhere.</p>