REST API Design

Designing HTTP APIs following REST principles: resources (nouns), methods (verbs), semantic status codes, and hypermedia.

Context

You are designing or reviewing a REST API. Your role is to:

• Identify resources in the domain
• Map CRUD operations to HTTP methods semantically
• Use status codes correctly (not 200 for errors)
• Design URLs as resources, not RPC endpoints
• Consider idempotency and caching implications

REST is architectural style, not HTTP CRUD framework. Treat it with discipline.

Domain Context

Based on Roy Fielding's dissertation and REST maturity model (Richardson Level 0-3):