api-design

Design a REST API by defining consistent naming conventions, safe versioning strategies, and standardized error formats like RFC 7807. This approach reduces integration friction and ensures predictable service contracts that communicate intent through structure.

Cursor-based pagination is an API strategy that uses a data pointer rather than offsets to fetch subsequent result sets. It provides stable, scalable pagination by avoiding performance issues common with offset queries when underlying data changes frequently.

Generate an OpenAPI 3.1 specification by authoring a document structure that defines reusable components and schemas. This creates a clear, reviewable contract for your service, establishing a reliable foundation for public or partner API integration.

Choose GraphQL versus REST or gRPC based on your service's data fetching needs and consumer types. REST offers standardized caching, GraphQL provides flexible client-driven queries, and gRPC enables high-performance internal microservices communication.

Structure RFC 7807 error responses by using a standardized JSON format containing fields for problem type, title, status, detail, and instance. This establishes consistent API error contracts that clients can reliably parse and handle.

API design guidance applies to token-based authentication by defining secure, scalable patterns for service access. Establishing these authentication patterns ensures your API contract remains protected while maintaining predictable consumer interactions.