laravel: function in model must return a relationship instance

I try to build a path for a model on laravel

I created a function in my model:

public function path()
{
    return App\Helper\GeneralController::getURL($this);
}

with dd(App\Helper\GeneralController::getURL($this)) test I got the right answer. (output is a URL)

but in view with the call: $article->path I get this error:

> App\Article:: path must return a relationship instance.

What is wrong?

You need to call it:

$article->path()

When you do $article->path, you're trying to use Eloquent relationship which you don't have.

I know this has already been answered and accepted. However, if the OP did want to use a property accessor rather than a method use the "get{property name}Attribute" syntax of Laravel to create a custom attribute.

Here is what it would look like for this specific case:

public function getPathAttribute()
{
    return App\Helper\GeneralController::getURL($this);
}

using this approach "path" can now be called as an attribute and will not be resolved to a relationship using the syntax:

$article->path;

You're calling a relationship.

$article->path

To call the method, use '()', like so,

$article->path()

I faced that error when I forgot to write return before relation in the model!
check it out now!

path() is method not object element you need to call as method

$article->path();

Laravel 9 introduced a new way to define accessors/mutators within a model using Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Casts\Attribute.

https://laravel.com/docs/9.x/eloquent-mutators#defining-an-accessor

public function path(): Attribute
{
    return new Attribute(fn () => GeneralController::getURL($this));
}