An API is an interface people must learn and depend on; consistency and clear behavior matter beyond the implementation.
What to look for
- 01
Make authentication, errors, pagination, and limits understandable.
- 02
Document the ordinary workflow and what happens when a request fails.
- 03
Treat public contract changes as a design responsibility.
Keep in mind
An opinionated historical guide, not an API standard. Recheck security recommendations against current official guidance and choose conventions consistently.
Try this next
Have a developer unfamiliar with your API complete one task using only the public documentation. Record every place they need private knowledge.
Get the architecture templateNotes and exercises by Awesome CTO. The original work belongs to Vinay Sahni.
