API Standards

RESTful Conventions

Design APIs using RESTful principles. Use HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) for resource actions. Organize endpoints by resource and action.

Example:

GET    /users/           # List users
POST   /users/           # Create user
GET    /users/<id>/      # Retrieve user
PUT    /users/<id>/      # Update user
DELETE /users/<id>/      # Delete user

Status Codes

Return appropriate HTTP status codes for all API responses (200 OK, 201 Created, 400 Bad Request, 404 Not Found, 500 Internal Server Error).

Versioning

Include API version in the URL or headers (e.g., /api/v1/users/).

Pagination, Filtering, Sorting

Support pagination, filtering, and sorting for list endpoints. Use query parameters (?page=2&sort=name).

API Resources

Use Django REST Framework serializers for consistent request/response formats. Document fields, types, and validation rules.

Error Responses

Return structured error responses with clear messages and codes.

Example:

{
  "error": {
    "code": "invalid_request",
    "message": "Email is required."
  }
}

Best Practices

• Use authentication (e.g., JWT, OAuth2) for protected endpoints.
• Document all endpoints, parameters, and responses.
• Write tests for API endpoints and error handling.
• Use rate limiting and monitoring for public APIs.