Django REST framework: AttributeError: Serializer object has no attribute 'Meta'

Question

Given the following model and serializer for a Django REST framework setup:

#!/usr/bin/env python
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
from django.db import models

class StationReport(models.Model):

    water_level = models.IntegerField(max_length=5, blank=False)
    user_name = models.CharField(max_length=256, blank=False)
    email_address = models.CharField(max_length=256, blank=True)
    recorded_at = models.DateTimeField(blank=False)
    created_at = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)
    modified_at = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)

...

#!/usr/bin/env python
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-

from rest_framework import serializers
from models import StationReport

class StationReportSerializer(serializers.HyperlinkedModelSerializer):
    water_level = serializers.IntegerField(required=True)
    user_name = serializers.CharField(required=True)
    email_address = serializers.CharField(required=False)
    recorded_at = serializers.DateTimeField(required=True)

    def create(self, validated_data):
        return StationReport.objects.create(**validated_data)

    def update(self, instance, validated_data):
        instance.water_level = validated_data.get('water_level', instance.water_level)
        instance.user_name = validated_data.get('user_name', instance.user_name)
        instance.email_address = validated_data.get('email_address', instance.email_address)
        instance.recorded_at = validated_data.get('recorded_at', instance.recorded_at)
        instance.save()
        return instance

Why am I receiving this AttributeError when I visit http://localhost:8000/stationreports/?

AttributeError at /stationreports/

'StationReportSerializer' object has no attribute 'Meta'

Request Method:     GET
Request URL:    http://localhost:8000/stationreports/
Django Version:     1.7.3
Exception Type:     AttributeError
Exception Value:    

'StationReportSerializer' object has no attribute 'Meta'

I followed the first part of the Serializers tutorial which does not seem to work in the presented form. I already tried to remove the Meta class in the model but still the error occurs.

The problem reason

For some reason I did not exactly follow the mentioned Serializers tutorial. My given example works when I change the following:

Before:

class GaugeReportSerializer(serializers.HyperlinkedModelSerializer):
    water_level = serializers.IntegerField(required=True, max_length=5)

After:

class GaugeReportSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
    water_level = serializers.IntegerField(required=True)

I think this mistake happened because I did the Quickstart tutorial before.

It says it all, where is your class Meta inside your serializer? — Sam R.
– Sam R., Commented Jan 14, 2015 at 17:06
I can also attest to this, I changed serializers.HyperlinkedModelSerializer to serializers.Serializer and it worked — jose_burg
– jose_burg, Commented Sep 28, 2020 at 19:12

dursk · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-14 17:09:39Z

9

Because you don't have a Meta class defined.

In Django REST Framework, Meta classes are not inherited from their parent classes.

class StationReportSerializer(serializers.HyperlinkedModelSerializer):
    class Meta:
        model = StationReport

The above should solve your problem.

http://www.django-rest-framework.org/api-guide/serializers/#inheritance-of-the-meta-class

answered Jan 14, 2015 at 17:09

dursk

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1 Comment

Seth Over a year ago

I had Meta defined, but model was the wrong class. I had switched the model being serialized but failed to update the Meta.

Sam R. · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-14 17:24:33Z

7

HyperlinkedModelSerializer is a model serializer. So you need to define the class Meta like below:

Moreover, when you set the model on meta class, then you don't need to explicitly define all of the fields on serializer. You just add them to the fields of meta class. Unless your are doing something specialized on the fields.

class StationReportSerializer(serializers.HyperlinkedModelSerializer):

    # ...

    class Meta:
        model = StationReport
        fields = ( 
            'water_level',
            'user_name',
            'email_address',
            'recorded_at',
        )

    extra_kwargs = {
        'water_level': {'required': True},
        'user_name': {'required': True},
        'email_address': {'required': False},
        'recorded_at': {'required': True},
    }

edited Jan 14, 2015 at 17:24

answered Jan 14, 2015 at 17:09

Sam R.

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2 Comments

JJD Over a year ago

Thank you for your answer. Though, I grant the answer to mattm because I like the simplification approach. Since I am a Django newbie please correct me if I made the wrong decision.

Sam R. Over a year ago

@JJD, It's OK. We answered the same thing but I just added that the purpose of using ModelSerializer is to avoid re-declaring all of the model fields in serializer. That's what it is for but choices are yours.

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