API Design

Most APIs are built on HTTP — master methods and status codes before designing anything.

JSON is the lingua franca of data exchange — consistent shape and naming hugely affect API clarity.

REST is the most common API style — good resource and route design makes your API intuitive and predictable.

As data grows, returning it all kills performance — give consumers tools to page, filter, and sort.

Clear, consistent errors save developers hours of debugging and build trust in your API.

Securing the API is the first line of defense — know who the user is and what they're allowed to do.

Your API will change — a solid versioning strategy lets you evolve without breaking consumers.

An API without good docs barely exists — OpenAPI precisely describes your contract and generates tooling.

GraphQL lets clients request exactly what they need — a strong answer to REST's over/under-fetching.

Some systems need speed and live streams — gRPC and WebSockets cover where REST falls short.

Without limits and protection, your API is exposed to abuse and attacks that can take down your whole service.

In large systems a gateway centralizes auth, limits, and routing — and helps manage the API as a product.