REST API Design: Principles That Stand the Test of Time

# REST API Design: Principles That Stand the Test of Time

Good API design is an art. Here are the principles I follow when designing APIs.

1. Use Nouns, Not Verbs

• Resources should be nouns:
• ✅ GET /users
• ❌ GET /getUsers

2. HTTP Methods Matter

• GET: Retrieve resources
• POST: Create resources
• PUT/PATCH: Update resources
• DELETE: Delete resources

3. Use Proper Status Codes

• 200: Success
• 201: Created
• 400: Bad Request
• 401: Unauthorized
• 404: Not Found
• 500: Server Error

4. Versioning

• Always version your APIs:
• /api/v1/users
• /api/v2/users

5. Pagination

For large datasets, implement pagination:

{
  "data": [...],
  "pagination": {
    "page": 1,
    "pageSize": 20,
    "total": 100
  }
}

6. Error Responses

Consistent error responses help developers:

{
  "error": {
    "code": "VALIDATION_ERROR",
    "message": "Email is required",
    "fields": ["email"]
  }
}

Conclusion

Great API design makes your API a joy to use. Follow these principles to create APIs that developers love.