REST APIs

Overview

REST APIs expose resources through HTTP in a predictable, client-friendly way.

Why It Matters

Many frontend applications depend on REST APIs for data loading, mutations, and workflow actions.

Core Concepts

• Resources represent domain concepts.
• HTTP methods map to operations.
• Status codes and payloads should be consistent.

Mental Models

Think in nouns for resources and verbs for operations.

Best Practices

• Keep route naming consistent.
• Return stable shapes.
• Use clear error responses.

Common Mistakes

• Building RPC-style endpoints with REST labels.
• Returning inconsistent error shapes.
• Encoding too much business logic in route names.

Trade-offs

REST is simple and familiar, but very complex workflows sometimes need a more specialized design.

Decision Framework

Examples

• GET /users/123
• POST /sessions
• PATCH /profile

Checklists

• Are routes consistent and predictable?
• Do errors return useful information?
• Are methods aligned with the operation?

Senior Engineer Notes

Senior engineers value API clarity because it reduces frontend guesswork and production confusion.

Further Reading

• HTTP
• API Integration
• Testing Strategy