REST API Design Patterns 2025
Modern API design requires more than just endpoints—it’s about building scalable, maintainable interfaces for the next decade.
REST
Patterns
Core REST Design Patterns
Resource-Oriented Routes
Design endpoints based on nouns representing domain entities rather than verbs for actions.
GET /api/users
POST /api/users
GET /api/users/{id}
Stateless Communication
Each request must contain all necessary information to process the request.
Authorization: Bearer {{token}}
Content-Type: application/json
API Versioning Strategies
URI Versioning
/api/v2/users
Header Versioning
Accept: application/vnd.myapp.v1+json
Query Param Versioning
/api/users?version=2
Best Practices
- Use semantic versioning (semver)
- Maintain backward compatibility for minor versions
- Archive older versions every 12 months
Consistent Error Handling
Standardized Responses
{
"error": {
"code": 400,
"message": "Invalid ID format",
"request_id": "456789xyz",
"target": "users/{id}"
}
}
Recommended HTTP Status Codes
200 - OK
400 - Bad Request
401 - Unauthorized
404 - Not Found
500 - Internal Server Error
503 - Service Unavailable