midAPI Design
Designing Error Responses in APIs.
Updated Apr 28, 2026
Short answer
Providing clear status codes along with a machine-readable error body containing details.
Deep explanation
Intermediate API design involves handling complexity and security. Providing clear status codes along with a machine-readable error body containing details.
Real-world example
GitHub API using cursors for navigating large lists of commits.
Common mistakes
- Not versioning the API from day one, leading to breaking changes.
Follow-up questions
- Is PUT idempotent?
- Is POST idempotent?