9 REST API Mistakes You’re Probably Making (And How to Fix Them)

APIs are like good friends -  Easy to talk to, reliable, and always there when you need them. But just like any relationship, if you dont treat them right, things can get quite messy. 😥

For new developers, building clean and efficient REST APIs might feel like a daunting task. But the truth is, it's not as complicated as it seems. When I was learning to build REST API, I often felt overwhelmed by all the concepts, documentation, complex error messages, and not knowing where to begin. But with a little patience and the right guidance gave me a push, I quickly realized that it's all about following a few simple rules.

That's why I want to share the 9 essential secrets that helped me avoid common mistakes to building better, scalable, and efficient REST APIs - so you can do the same!

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1. Use Consistent Naming Conventions 🧰

One of the first lessons I learnt when building APIs was how important the naming conventions are. It's easier to get lost in a mix of styles - some endpoints with underscores, others with hyphens, and random capitalization. Trust me, it's a nightmare for anyone using your API.

Better stick to lowercase, use hyphens to separate words (like /user-profile), and keep it clean/ A consistent naming convention makes your API predictable and developer friendly.

/UserProfile (BAD)
/user-profile (GOOD)

2. Favor Plural Nouns for Endpoints 🔚

When I started building APIs, I didn't give much thought to whether endpoints should be singular or plural - until I realized how confusing it can be for developers who are using your API.

Using plural nouns for resources (/users instead of /user) is more intuitive, especially when you're dealing with collections. It's a small change, but it makes your API easier to navigate and understand.

/user (BAD)
/users (GOOD)

3. Use Correct HTTP Status Codes 📃

One of my biggest early mistakes was not paying attention to HTTP Status codes. I'd either not use any or either return 200 for everything - success, failure, you name it. But status codes are like a universal language for APIs.

They tell the client exactly what happened. Use 200 for success, 201 for created, 400 for bad requests. and so on. A little attention to detail here goes a long way.

PUT /users/{id} return 200 (BAD)
GET /users/{id} return 200 (GOOD)

4. Provide Meaningful Error Messages 📟

Nothing frustrates the developers more than vague error messages. Early on, I'd return messages like 'Invalid request' without explaining the context behind it. But detailed messages can save so much time.

Instead of just saying something's wrong, explaining properly why it's wrong - 'Invalid email format' or 'Missing required field: username'. It's all about being helpful.

{
    "error" : {
    "code" : 404,
    "message" : "Resource not found",
    "details" : "The requested resource could not be found. Please check your request."
    }
}

5. Version Your APIs 📆

One of my first API projects (Crickenzy API) ran into trouble because I didn't version it. When I made changes, everything broke for the clients using it. Lesson learned: always version your API. Adding a version number like /v1 to your endpoints ensures that you can introduce updates without breaking existing integrations. 

/resource (BAD)
/v1/resource (GOOD)

6. Paginate Large Responses 📚

In one of my early projects, I returned an entire dataset in one API call, thinking it would make things easier. It did for small datasets but as the dataset grown, it not only slowed everything down but also made the API hard to use, because even if the clients needs 5 starting rows, it would return all the dataset at once.

I then stumbled upon a concept called Pagination, which paginate your responses with query parameters like ?page=2&limit=50. It keeps your API fast and efficient in case you have large dataset.

/users (BAD) //If dataset is large.
/users?page=2&limit=50 (GOOD)

7. Secure Your API 🔒

I can't explain enough how important security is. I've seen several projects where APIs were left exposed without authentication, and it's like leaving your house unlocked.

Always use HTTPS, require authentication tokens like JWT (Json Web Tokens), and validate inputs to protect your Rest API from unauthorized access or abuse. Security isn't optional - It's a necessity!

GET /api/orders
Authorization: Bearer

8. Write Clear Documentation 🖹

I used to think that APIs didn't need detailed documentation-- after all, the code works, right? Wrong. Documentation is the bridge between your API and its users. Include clear explanations, examples, and error handling guidelines. Good documentation turns your API from 'usable' to "exceptional".

You can use Swagger to create clear and well documented documentation that may help the developers using it.

9. Rate Limiting Your API 🚦

When I first learned about rate limiting, I thought it was just an extra step that wasn't really necessary. That is, until I had my API flooded with requests and it went down in just a moment.

Rate limiting is like putting a cap on how many times someone can request your API per minute. It protects your server from abuse and ensures that all the users get a fair share of your API's resources.

By limiting the number of requests a client can make within a set period (e.g., 20 requests per minute), you can prevent your API from being overwhelmed and ensure better performance for everyone.

Conclusion

Building REST APIs can feel like a huge challenge when you're just starting out, but by following right practices, you'll be well on your way to creating efficient, scalable, and easy to use APIs.

It's really all about setting up solid foundations - clear naming conventions, secure calls, and keeping your users (and their requests) in mind. Don't worry if you make mistakes, it's part of the game and every developer goes through it. and remember, the developers using your APIs will silently thank you for this! 😄