moodle-external-api-development

Moodle External API Development

This skill guides you through creating custom external web service APIs for Moodle LMS, following Moodle's external API framework and coding standards.

Detailed Guide

Read [the detailed guide](references/detailed-guide.md) before executing this skill. It retains the complete procedure and reference material. Treat its safety, prerequisites, and validation requirements as mandatory. For focused work, load the relevant sections; for end-to-end work, read the guide completely.

When to Use This Skill

• Creating custom web services for Moodle plugins
• Implementing REST/AJAX endpoints for course management
• Building APIs for quiz operations, user tracking, or reporting
• Exposing Moodle functionality to external applications
• Developing mobile app backends using Moodle

Examples from Real Implementation

Simple Read API (Get Quiz Attempts)

<?php
namespace local_userlog\external;

defined('MOODLE_INTERNAL') || die();
require_once("$CFG->libdir/externallib.php");

use external_api;
use external_function_parameters;
use external_single_structure;
use external_value;

class get_quiz_attempts extends external_api {
    public static function execute_parameters() {
        return new external_function_parameters([
            'userid' => new external_value(PARAM_INT, 'User ID'),
            'courseid' => new external_value(PAR