API Design Principles

Well-designed APIs are a joy to use and maintain. Whether building REST, GraphQL, or other API types, certain principles lead to better outcomes.

Consistency is Key

Consistent naming conventions, response structures, and error handling make APIs intuitive and predictable. Developers should be able to guess how endpoints work based on patterns they've already learned.

Documentation and Examples

Great documentation with clear examples is essential. Include use cases, error scenarios, and edge cases. Interactive documentation tools like Swagger or Postman collections can significantly improve the developer experience.

Versioning and Evolution

Plan for change from the start. Implement versioning strategies that allow you to evolve your API without breaking existing clients. Consider backwards compatibility and provide clear migration paths when breaking changes are necessary.