When Should I Use a Service Layer Instead of Keeping Logic in the Controller?

My go-to is to handle complex access control directly in the controller if it's a specific one-off, but otherwise, I stick to the service layer. It just makes sense to keep logic where you expect it to be!

Moving logic to the service layer means I can easily unit test that code without dealing with request and response objects, which is a big win for me!

I find it cleaner to keep all logic in the service layer and avoid cluttering the controller. It really simplifies things!

Keeping logic in the service layer is definitely the way to go. For example, if you want to add an 'export as CSV' button, it might be easy from the controller. But if you need to email that CSV later, having the generation logic in a service means you can just plug it into the email function. It keeps your controllers clean and the overall process more maintainable.

I always opt to put everything in the service layer. Controllers should just convert HTTP request inputs to something the service layer understands and vice versa for the response. This keeps everything modular, making future changes easier.