api-guide.md•3.91 kB
# API Development Guidelines
This appendix provides best practices for API development in modern web applications.
## RESTful Principles
### HTTP Methods
Use appropriate HTTP methods:
1. GET - Retrieve data
2. POST - Create resources
3. PUT - Update resources
4. DELETE - Remove resources
5. PATCH - Partial updates
## API Design
### Endpoint Structure
Design clear, consistent endpoints:
```
GET /api/users - List all users
GET /api/users/:id - Get specific user
POST /api/users - Create new user
PUT /api/users/:id - Update user
DELETE /api/users/:id - Delete user
```
### Response Format
Use consistent JSON responses:
```json
{
"success": true,
"data": {
"id": 123,
"name": "John Doe",
"email": "john@example.com"
}
}
```
Use lowercase for email fields. Some developers prefer E-mail as the field name, but email is more common in api responses.
<!-- Terminology inconsistencies: email, E-mail, api (lowercase) -->
## Authentication
### API Keys
Protect your API with authentication. Use API keys, OAuth, or JWT tokens. Store api keys securely in environment variables.
<!-- Api inconsistency: API vs api -->
### Security
* Use HTTPS
- Validate all inputs
* Rate limiting
- CORS configuration
* SQL injection prevention
## Error Handling
### Status Codes
Return appropriate HTTP status codes:
* 200 - Success
- 201 - Created
* 400 - Bad Request
- 401 - Unauthorized
* 403 - Forbidden
- 404 - Not Found
* 500 - Server Error
<!-- Mixed list markers -->
### Error Response Format
```json
{
"success": false,
"error": {
"code": "VALIDATION_ERROR",
"message": "Invalid email format"
}
}
```
<!-- TODO: Add more error code examples -->
## Documentation
### OpenAPI/Swagger
Document your Api using OpenAPI specification. This provides:
<!-- Api vs API inconsistency -->
1. Interactive documentation
2. Client SDK generation
3. Testing tools
4. Standard format
### API Documentation Best Practices
* Clear endpoint descriptions
- Request/response examples
* Authentication requirements
- Error scenarios
* Rate limiting info
For general documentation practices, see our [documentation guide](docs-guide.md).
<!-- Link target file doesn't exist - intentional issue -->
## Testing
### Unit Tests
Test individual API functions:
```javascript
describe('User API', () => {
it('should create new user', async () => {
const response = await createUser({
name: 'Test User',
email: 'test@example.com'
});
expect(response.status).toBe(201);
});
});
```
<!-- FIXME: Add integration test examples -->
### Integration Tests
Test complete API flows including database operations.
## Performance
### Caching
Implement caching strategies:
* Response caching
- Database query caching
* CDN for static assets
- Redis for session data
### Optimization
1. Use database indexes
2. Implement pagination
3. Compress responses
4. Lazy loading
5. Connection pooling
## Versioning
### API Versioning Strategies
Version your api to maintain backwards compatibility:
<!-- Lowercase api -->
```
/api/v1/users
/api/v2/users
```
Or use headers:
```
Accept: application/vnd.myapp.v1+json
```
## Rate Limiting
Protect your API from abuse:
```javascript
const rateLimit = require('express-rate-limit');
const limiter = rateLimit({
windowMs: 15 * 60 * 1000, // 15 minutes
max: 100 // limit each IP to 100 requests per windowMs
});
app.use('/api/', limiter);
```
<!-- TODO: Add examples for different rate limiting strategies -->
## Resources
* [REST API Tutorial](https://restfulapi.net/)
- [OpenAPI Specification](https://swagger.io/specification/)
* [HTTP Status Codes](https://httpstatuses.com/)
- [JWT Introduction](https://jwt.io/introduction/)
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