Design APIs that are easy to use
A clear API sets expectations about inputs, outputs, errors, and ownership before clients depend on it.
Model resources
Choose stable resource names and use HTTP methods consistently. Validate incoming data and return appropriate status codes with a predictable error shape.
Protect records
Authentication identifies the user. Authorization decides whether that user can access a particular record. Check ownership on the server for every protected operation.
Document the edges
Explain pagination, sorting, time formats, and limits. Include example requests and responses for both success and failure. Test those examples against your implementation.