API Design Standards
Relevant source files
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The API Design Standards for the Dev-Template project establish a uniform set of principles for constructing RESTful interfaces. These standards ensure consistency across service boundaries, focusing on resource-oriented architecture, standardized error handling, and predictable request/response cycles.
This documentation serves as a reference for developers to maintain the architectural integrity of the system as it scales. It covers path naming conventions, HTTP method usage, and the structured application of Pydantic models for data validation.
Resource-Oriented Path Design
The project utilizes a hierarchical resource-based URL structure. All endpoints are versioned to prevent breaking changes for consumers and are structured to represent entities within the system.
Path Structure
Endpoints follow a standard prefix pattern followed by the resource name in plural form. Specific resources are accessed via unique identifiers within the path.
| Component | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Version | API versioning prefix | /api/v1 |
| Resource | Pluralized entity name | /users |
| Identifier | Unique resource UUID | /{user_id} |
Sources: src/api/v1/endpoints/users.py:1-10, src/core/config.py:15
HTTP Method Mapping
The API adheres to standard HTTP verb semantics for CRUD operations:
- GET: Retrieve a resource or a list of resources.
- POST: Create a new resource.
- PUT: Replace an existing resource entirely.
- PATCH: Partially update an existing resource.
- DELETE: Remove a resource.
The flow above illustrates how incoming requests are routed based on the HTTP verb to specific controller logic.
Sources: src/api/v1/endpoints/users.py:12-45
Request and Response Schemas
To ensure data integrity, the project strictly uses Pydantic models for both incoming request bodies and outgoing response payloads. This provides automatic validation, documentation generation, and type safety.
Validation Logic
All incoming data is validated against specific schema classes. If a request fails validation, a standard error response is returned automatically.
This sequence highlights the validation barrier that exists before any business logic or database interaction occurs.
Sources: src/schemas/common.py:5-20, src/api/v1/endpoints/users.py:22-30
Standardized Response Format
Responses typically include the requested resource or a list of resources wrapped in a consistent metadata structure where applicable (e.g., for pagination).
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
id | UUID | Unique identifier of the resource |
created_at | DateTime | Timestamp of resource creation |
updated_at | DateTime | Timestamp of last modification |
Sources: src/models/domain/user.py:10-25, src/schemas/common.py:22-35
Error Handling Standards
Errors are returned as JSON objects containing a machine-readable code and a human-readable message. This allows client applications to handle exceptions gracefully.
Status Codes
The project utilizes the following status codes to indicate the result of an API request:
- 200 OK: Request succeeded.
- 201 Created: Resource creation succeeded.
- 400 Bad Request: Client-side error in request parameters.
- 401 Unauthorized: Authentication required or failed.
- 404 Not Found: Resource does not exist.
- 500 Internal Server Error: Unexpected server-side failure.
Sources: src/api/v1/endpoints/users.py:50-60, src/core/config.py:40-45
Configuration and Environment
API behavior, including versioning, CORS settings, and security parameters, is managed via a centralized configuration module. This ensures that environment-specific settings (Development vs. Production) are applied consistently.
# Example of API Configuration structure
class Settings:
API_V1_STR: str = "/api/v1"
PROJECT_NAME: str = "Dev-Template API"
# Security and CORS
BACKEND_CORS_ORIGINS: list = ["*"]
Sources: src/core/config.py:5-20
Conclusion
The API Design Standards in Dev-Template provide a robust framework for developing scalable and maintainable services. By strictly adhering to resource-oriented paths, Pydantic-based validation, and standardized error responses, the project ensures a high level of predictability and ease of integration for frontend and third-party consumers.