You're reading from RESTful API Design Patterns and Best Practices Master REST API design with real-world patterns, lifecycle management, and OpenAPI practices

Product type Paperback

Published in Oct 2025

Last Updated in Oct 2025

Publisher Packt

ISBN-13 9781835885284

Length 406 pages

Edition 1st Edition

Languages

JavaScript

Tools

.NET

Concepts

REST API

Authors (2):

Andrzej Jarzyna

Samir Amzani

View More author details

Table of Contents (20) Chapters

Preface

1. The Apprentice’s Study – Preparing for the Craft

2. The “Why” of API Development FREE CHAPTER

3. API as a Product: Designing APIs with a Product Mindset

4. Understanding Application and API Lifecycles

5. Applying Domain-Driven Design to APIs

6. The Wizard’s Grimoire – Mastering the Fundamentals of REST

7. Comparing and Choosing the Right API Style

8. REST Design Constraints and Maturity Models

9. Constructing an API Design Domain Model

10. Designing and Managing Effective API Contracts

11. The Archmage’s Circle – Forging and Evolving API Contracts

12. Understanding the OpenAPI Specification

13. OpenAPI as a Contract: Best Practices and Implementation

14. Using JSON Schema to Define Your Object Models

15. Don’t Hate Your Hypermedia: Creating APIs for Humans and AIs

16. API Change Management: Strategies for Versioning and Evolution

17. Unlock Your Book’s Exclusive Benefits

How to unlock these benefits in three easy steps

18. Other Books You May Enjoy

19. Index

Understanding JSON Schema

Nowadays, almost all REST APIs expose data in JSON format. It is crucial to define this data strictly to ensure that our contract, documented as an OpenAPI Specification file, remains unambiguous. Understanding how to use JSON Schema is essential for creating well-defined APIs. In this section, we will explore its purpose and how to create schema files effectively.

Open nature

Unlike XML schemas, which are closed by nature, JSON Schema is considered open. This means JSON Schema inherently allows for flexible definitions that can accommodate additional properties not explicitly defined in the schema. This openness promotes extensibility and interoperability, but it may also introduce ambiguity, requiring you to carefully define all necessary constraints. In contrast, closed schemas ensure that only the elements explicitly defined in your code are permitted.