REST API Design Principles That Stand the Test of Time

Timeless principles for designing clean, maintainable, and scalable REST APIs.

Ajmal Razaq

December 12, 2024

6 min read

Cover image for article: REST API Design Principles That Stand the Test of Time

The Foundation of Good API Design

A well-designed API is intuitive, consistent, and easy to use. These principles have stood the test of time across countless projects.

Use Nouns, Not Verbs

Your endpoints should represent resources, not actions:

✅ GET /users
✅ POST /users
✅ GET /users/123

❌ GET /getUsers
❌ POST /createUser

HTTP Methods Matter

Use HTTP methods to convey intent:

Method	Purpose
GET	Retrieve resources
POST	Create new resources
PUT	Replace a resource
PATCH	Partially update a resource
DELETE	Remove a resource

Pagination and Filtering

Always paginate large collections:

GET /users?page=2&limit=20&sort=name&order=asc

Error Handling

Return meaningful error responses:

{
  "error": {
    "code": "VALIDATION_ERROR",
    "message": "Email address is required",
    "field": "email"
  }
}

Versioning Your API

Plan for change from the beginning:

/api/v1/users
/api/v2/users

Conclusion

Good API design is about empathy — putting yourself in the shoes of the developer who will consume your API. Keep it simple, consistent, and well-documented.

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