api-design

name	api-design
description	Design and implement professional REST APIs with consistent patterns, proper error handling, versioning, pagination, and OpenAPI documentation. Use when building any API endpoint, service, or backend interface. Triggers on: REST API, GraphQL, endpoint design, API routes, backend services, webhooks.
version	1.1.0
author	gustavo
tags	["backend","api"]

API Design Skill

This skill ensures every API is consistent, well-documented, and follows industry best practices.

URL Structure

/api/v1/{resource}                    # Collection
/api/v1/{resource}/{id}               # Single item
/api/v1/{resource}/{id}/{sub-resource}  # Nested resource

Rules:

• Use plural nouns: /users, /orders, /products
• Use kebab-case for multi-word: /order-items
• Max 2 levels of nesting

HTTP Methods

Method	Purpose	Idempotent	Safe
GET	Retrieve	Yes	Yes
POST	Create	No	No
PUT	Replace	Yes	No
PATCH	Update	Yes	No
DELETE	Remove	Yes	No

Response Format

Success

{
  "data": { },
  "meta": {
    "requestId": "req_xyz789",
    "timestamp": "2024-01-15T10:30:00Z"
  }
}

Error

{
  "error": {
    "code": "VALIDATION_ERROR",
    "message": "Invalid input data",
    "details": [
      { "field": "email", "message": "Must be valid email" }
    ]
  },
  "meta": { "requestId": "req_xyz789" }
}

Status Codes

Code	When to Use
200	Successful GET, PUT, PATCH
201	Successful POST (created)
204	Successful DELETE
400	Bad request
401	Not authenticated
403	Not authorized
404	Not found
409	Conflict
422	Validation failed
429	Rate limited
500	Server error

Pagination

{
  "data": [...],
  "pagination": {
    "page": 1,
    "perPage": 20,
    "total": 150,
    "totalPages": 8,
    "hasNext": true,
    "hasPrev": false
  }
}

Filtering & Sorting

GET /api/v1/users?status=active&sort=-createdAt&fields=id,name

Checklist

• URLs use plural nouns and kebab-case
• Correct HTTP methods for each operation
• Consistent response envelope
• Proper status codes
• Pagination on all list endpoints
• Validation with detailed errors
• Rate limiting headers
• OpenAPI documentation