# How Do We Design Effecti... ! [ rw-book-cover] (https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1614543077619953664/822_Gqfy.jpg) URL: https://twitter.com/NikkiSiapno/status/1885197694328836403 Author: @NikkiSiapno on Twitter  ## AI-Generated Summary None ## Highlights > How do we design effective and safe APIs? > APIs have increasingly become the backbone of modern software. > To understand some of the key principles and best practices of API design, Let's analyze a social media platform example: > 🔹 Resource naming > Clarity is key when creating APIs. > Adopting simple resource names, like /users for accessing user profiles and /posts for retrieving user posts, streamlines the development process and reduces mental strain. > 🔹 Use of plurals > It's important to maintain a standard of consistency in API design. > For consistency and readability, use plural resource names, such as GET /users/{userId}/friends vs. /friend), to avoid ambiguity in API requests. > 🔹 Cross-referencing resources > Interlinking resources, like taking comments on a post using GET /posts/{postId}/comments, simplifies the retrieval of related data. > It provides a more streamlined and well-organized user experience. > 🔹 Security > It goes without saying, security is a must-have. > To secure the API endpoints, employ authentication methods like X-AUTH-TOKEN and X-SIGNATURE, and use authorization headers for verifying user permissions. > 🔹 Versioning > Using versioning and communicating version updates is another important practice. > Endpoints like GET /v2/users/{userId}/posts allow API versioning to maintain functionality regardless of updates. > This approach ensures backward compatibility and a smooth transition for users and us. > 🔹 Pagination > This technique is important for performance. > Paginate large datasets, like feeds or comment lists, with GET /posts?page=5&pageSize=20 to enhance data delivery and UX. > 🔹 Idempotency > Maintaining API reliability is necessary. > Idempotency ensures that operations like profile updates (PUT /users/{userId}/profile) achieve their intended result, regardless of how often they are executed. > Thorough documentation, robust monitoring and logging, and consistent error handling are just a few more of the many essential habits required for designing effective and safe APIs. > Adopting these principles and practices enables us to develop secure and performant APIs that deliver good user experiences. > ~~ > Thank you to our partner Postman who keeps our content free to the community. > Want to increase your API knowledge and skillsets? POST/CON 25 is a great way to do so. > Subscribe to be notified of first access to event updates, speaker announcements, and discounted tickets! > Check it out: https://t.co/yYAH4VqG8u >  ([View Tweet](https://twitter.com/NikkiSiapno/status/1885197694328836403))