RESTful API Design Principles

REST (Representational State Transfer) has become the standard for web API design. Understanding and implementing REST principles correctly is crucial for building maintainable and scalable APIs.

HTTP Methods and Status Codes

Use HTTP methods appropriately: GET for retrieval, POST for creation, PUT for updates, DELETE for removal. Always return appropriate status codes: 200 for success, 201 for creation, 404 for not found, 500 for server errors.

Resource Naming Conventions

Use nouns for resources, not verbs. Keep URLs simple and intuitive: /users for user collections, /users/123 for specific users. Use plural nouns consistently.

Authentication and Security

Implement proper authentication (JWT, OAuth) and authorization. Always use HTTPS, validate input data, and implement rate limiting to prevent abuse.

Documentation and Versioning

Provide comprehensive API documentation and implement versioning strategy from the beginning. Tools like OpenAPI/Swagger can help maintain up-to-date documentation.