Braad

Note: You probably do not need this plugin. The REST API already supports adding the query param <code>?_embed</code> to your URL and the response will then include all “embedded media”, including the featured image, and the data you get there is exactly what this plugin gives you. The only reasons to use this plugin at this point are if you prefer to have the featured image data in a top level field in the response rather than among other embedded media in the <code>_embedded</code> field, and if you always want the featured image data in the response rather than having to ask for it with <code>?_embed</code>. I still use this plugin because I do usually want both these things, but definitely give <code>?_embed</code> a try before using this plugin. 🙂
Version 2 of the WordPress REST API returns a <code>featured_media</code> field (formerly featured_image) on the post object by default, but this field is simply the image ID.
This plugin adds a <code>better_featured_image</code> field to the post object that contains the available image sizes and urls, allowing you to get this information without making a second request.
It takes this:
<pre><code>"featured_media": 13,
</code></pre>
And turns it into this:
<pre><code>"featured_media": 13,
"better_featured_image": {
 "id": 13,
 "alt_text": "Hot Air Balloons",
 "caption": "The event featured hot air balloon rides",
 "description": "The hot air balloons from the big event",
 "media_type": "image",
 "media_details": {
 "width": 5760,
 "height": 3840,
 "file": "2015/09/balloons.jpg",
 "sizes": {
 "thumbnail": {
 "file": "balloons-150x150.jpg",
 "width": 150,
 "height": 150,
 "mime-type": "image/jpeg",
 "source_url": "http://api.example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/balloons-150x150.jpg"
 },
 "medium": {
 "file": "balloons-300x200.jpg",
 "width": 300,
 "height": 200,
 "mime-type": "image/jpeg",
 "source_url": "http://api.example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/balloons-300x200.jpg"
 },
 "large": {
 "file": "balloons-1024x683.jpg",
 "width": 1024,
 "height": 683,
 "mime-type": "image/jpeg",
 "source_url": "http://api.example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/balloons-1024x683.jpg"
 },
 "post-thumbnail": {
 "file": "balloons-825x510.jpg",
 "width": 825,
 "height": 510,
 "mime-type": "image/jpeg",
 "source_url": "http://api.example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/balloons-825x510.jpg"
 }
 },
 "image_meta": {
 "aperture": 6.3,
 "credit": "",
 "camera": "Canon EOS 5D Mark III",
 "caption": "",
 "created_timestamp": 1433110262,
 "copyright": "",
 "focal_length": "50",
 "iso": "100",
 "shutter_speed": "0.004",
 "title": "",
 "orientation": 1
 }
 },
 "post": null,
 "source_url": "http://api.example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/balloons.jpg"
},
</code></pre>
The format of the response is nearly identical to what you would get sending a request to <code>/wp-json/wp/v2/media/13</code> or using <code>?_embed</code>. When no featured image has been set on the post the <code>better_featured_image</code> field will have a value of <code>null</code>.
I’ve done some basic performance tests that indicate the difference in response times with and without this plugin to be about 10-15ms for a collection of 10 posts and 0-5ms for a single post. For me this is much faster than making a second request to <code>/media/</code>, especially for multiple posts.
As of version 1.1.0, there is a filter <code>better_rest_api_featured_image</code> that allows you to add custom data to the better_featured_image field. The filter is directly on the return value of the function that returns the better_featured_image field. This can be used to do things like add custom image meta or an SVG version of the image to the response. Here’s an example of how you might use it:
<pre><code>add_filter( 'better_rest_api_featured_image', 'xxx_modify_rest_api_featured_image', 10, 2 );
/**
 * Modify the Better REST API Featured Image response.
 *
 * @param array $featured_image The array of image data.
 * @param int $image_id The image ID.
 *
 * @return array The modified image data.
 */
function xxx_modify_rest_api_featured_image( $featured_image, $image_id ) {

 // Add an extra_data_string field with a string value.
 $featured_image['extra_data_string'] = 'A custom value.';

 // Add an extra_data_array field with an array value.
 $featured_image['extra_data_array'] = array(
 'custom_key' => 'A custom value.',
 );

 return $featured_image;
}
</code></pre>
This plugin is on <a href="https://github.com/BraadMartin/better-rest-api-featured-images" title="Better REST API Featured Images" rel="nofollow ugc">on Github</a> and pull requests are always welcome. 🙂

Better REST API Featured Images

Does what id says, and it helps me a lot while building the theme in Angular2. Only one GET to have Post and Featured Image details!



Perfect! Must be in the API core

The Plugin works very well and saves time, thanks!



Works also with REST API V2

Thanks Martin.
This plugin does excectly what is says it would do.
And this should definitely be integrated in the main api code!!!



Great plugin, why is this not in the default API?

Awesome

Adds a top-level field with featured image data including available sizes and URLs to the post object returned by the REST API.

Jeff Starr

Does one thing: Completely disables the WordPress REST API for visitors who are not logged into WordPress. No configuration required.
Important: This plugin completely disables the WP REST API for visitors who are NOT logged in to WordPress. So not recommended if your site needs the WP REST API for any non-logged users.
👉 The fast, simple way to prevent abuse of your site’s REST/JSON API 
👉 Protects your site’s REST data from all non-logged users and bots 
👉 Uses only 4KB of code, so super lightweight, fast, and effective
🛠️ Pro version available! <a href="https://plugin-planet.com/rest-pro-tools/" rel="nofollow ugc">Check out REST Pro Tools »</a>
<h3>Features</h3>
<ul>
<li>Disable REST/JSON for visitors (not logged in)</li>
<li>Disables REST header in HTTP response for all users</li>
<li>Disables REST links in HTML head for all users</li>
<li>100% plug-and-play, set-it-and-forget solution</li>
</ul>
How does it work?
This plugin completely disables the WP REST API unless the user is logged into WordPress.
<ul>
<li>For logged-in (authenticated) users, WP REST API works normally</li>
<li>For logged-out (unauthenticated) users, WP REST API is disabled</li>
</ul>
What happens if logged-out visitor makes a JSON/REST request? They will get only a simple message:
<pre><code>rest_login_required: REST API restricted to authenticated users.
</code></pre>
This message may customized via the filter hook, <code>disable_wp_rest_api_error</code>. Check out <a href="https://wordpress.org/support/topic/not-entirely-for-non-techies/#post-12014965" rel="ugc">this post</a> for an example of how to do it.
<h3>Pro Version</h3>
🛠️ Check out the Pro version, <a href="https://plugin-planet.com/rest-pro-tools/" rel="nofollow ugc">REST Pro Tools</a>, loaded with many awesome features:
<ul>
<li>One-click disable all routes</li>
<li>One-click disable all /users routes</li>
<li>Disable any specific user routes based on role</li>
<li>Whitelist any user IDs</li>
<li>Whitelist any IP addresses</li>
<li>Customize the REST error message</li>
<li>Customize the REST response code</li>
<li>Always require or force SSL/TLS</li>
<li>Disable all JSONP shenanigans</li>
<li>One-click disable any REST API headers</li>
<li>Add any post meta (custom field) to REST API</li>
<li>Add any user meta (custom field) to REST API</li>
<li>Add routes for site profile and author profile</li>
<li>Add routes for featured images and post categories</li>
<li>Add routes for post taxonomies and terms</li>
<li>At-a-glance check status of REST API</li>
</ul>
The free version does only one thing: disables REST API for unauthenticated users. The PRO version can do that and much more! Take full control of the REST API with <a href="https://plugin-planet.com/rest-pro-tools/" rel="nofollow ugc">REST Pro Tools »</a>
<h3>Privacy</h3>
This plugin does not collect or store any user data. It does not set any cookies, and it does not connect to any third-party locations. Thus, this plugin does not affect user privacy in any way. If anything it improves user privacy, as it protects potentially sensitive information from being displayed/accessed via REST API.
Disable WP REST API is developed and maintained by <a href="https://x.com/perishable" rel="nofollow ugc">Jeff Starr</a>, 15-year <a href="https://plugin-planet.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">WordPress developer</a> and <a href="https://books.perishablepress.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">book author</a>.
<h3>Support development of this plugin</h3>
I develop and maintain this free plugin with love for the WordPress community. To show support, you can <a href="https://monzillamedia.com/donate.html" rel="nofollow ugc">make a donation</a> or purchase one of my books:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://wp-tao.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">The Tao of WordPress</a></li>
<li><a href="https://digwp.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">Digging into WordPress</a></li>
<li><a href="https://htaccessbook.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">.htaccess made easy</a></li>
<li><a href="https://wp-tao.com/wordpress-themes-book/" rel="nofollow ugc">WordPress Themes In Depth</a></li>
<li><a href="https://books.perishablepress.com/downloads/wizards-collection-sql-recipes-wordpress/" rel="nofollow ugc">Wizard’s SQL Recipes for WordPress</a></li>
</ul>
And/or purchase one of my premium WordPress plugins:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://plugin-planet.com/bbq-pro/" rel="nofollow ugc">BBQ Pro</a> – Blazing fast WordPress firewall</li>
<li><a href="https://plugin-planet.com/blackhole-pro/" rel="nofollow ugc">Blackhole Pro</a> – Automatically block bad bots</li>
<li><a href="https://plugin-planet.com/banhammer-pro/" rel="nofollow ugc">Banhammer Pro</a> – Monitor traffic and ban the bad guys</li>
<li><a href="https://plugin-planet.com/ga-google-analytics-pro/" rel="nofollow ugc">GA Google Analytics Pro</a> – Connect WordPress to Google Analytics</li>
<li><a href="https://plugin-planet.com/head-meta-pro/" rel="nofollow ugc">Head Meta Pro</a> – Ultimate Meta Tags for WordPress</li>
<li><a href="https://plugin-planet.com/rest-pro-tools/" rel="nofollow ugc">REST Pro Tools</a> – Awesome tools for managing the WP REST API</li>
<li><a href="https://plugin-planet.com/simple-ajax-chat-pro/" rel="nofollow ugc">Simple Ajax Chat Pro</a> – Unlimited chat rooms</li>
<li><a href="https://plugin-planet.com/usp-pro/" rel="nofollow ugc">USP Pro</a> – Unlimited front-end forms</li>
</ul>
Links, tweets and likes also appreciated. Thank you! 🙂

Disable WP REST API

while the plugin si deadsimple and very low resource impact, keep in mind that there are plugins that need the rest to work with no auth (ex. contact form 7).

dead simple and efficient, but be aware

Disables the WP REST API for visitors not logged into WordPress.

Better REST API Featured Images vs Disable WP REST API