API/Contract Design - Defining Component Interfaces

Foundational Principle

Component contracts and interfaces must be defined before technology/protocol selection.

Jumping to implementation without contract definition creates:

• Integration failures discovered during development
• Inconsistent data structures across components
• Teams blocked waiting for interface clarity
• Rework when assumptions about contracts differ

The API Design answers: WHAT data/operations components expose and consume? The API Design never answers: HOW those are implemented (protocols, serialization, specific tech).

Phase 0: API Standards Discovery (MANDATORY)

Before defining contracts, check for organizational naming standards.