Part 4 Scaled and simplified API design

We have designed an API that does the right job, is user-friendly and interoperable, and integrates necessary constraints like security and efficiency. But doing so has involved many design decisions and tasks, some with huge effects. We must be equipped to make our work sustainable in the long term and at scale because we, as well as our colleagues, will continue to enhance the API we designed and also design new APIs. For example, integrating pagination into an API design is challenging because of the many design options; we must choose the “right” one without taking ages, but what is “right”? Once we decide, pagination must remain consistent across APIs, regardless of who designs them, enhancing interoperability and user-friendliness. Additionally, not re-discussing pagination for each new search operation speeds up the design and allows us to focus on more essential concerns like meeting user needs.