Building Robust and Scalable APIs
APIs serve as the backbone of modern web applications, enabling communication between different services and platforms. Whether building REST APIs or implementing GraphQL, following best practices ensures APIs are secure, maintainable, and performant.
REST API Design Principles
RESTful APIs should follow standard HTTP methods appropriately, use meaningful resource URLs, and implement consistent status codes. Design URLs that represent resources rather than actions and maintain consistency in naming conventions.
GraphQL Schema Design
GraphQL schemas should be designed with clear type definitions, efficient resolvers, and appropriate field relationships. Plan for query complexity management, implement proper error handling, and design mutations that are atomic and predictable.
Authentication and Authorization
Implement robust security measures including JWT tokens, OAuth 2.0, or API keys for authentication. Design role-based access control systems that scale with organizational needs.
Choosing Between REST and GraphQL
Choose REST for simple CRUD operations, public APIs, or when caching is crucial. Select GraphQL for complex data relationships, when you need flexible queries, or when minimizing network requests is important.