midAPI Design
What is Idempotency in APIs?
Updated Apr 28, 2026
Short answer
The property that making multiple identical requests has the same effect as a single request.
Deep explanation
Intermediate API design involves handling complexity and security. The property that making multiple identical requests has the same effect as a single request.
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?