API Design · Junior · Question 61 of 75

Should an API expose internal database IDs and table structure directly?

✓Correct answer: Design resources around clients' needs and the domain, not the database; the schema can change without breaking the API
2APIs must never return IDs
3Yes, the API should mirror tables exactly

Explanation

Mirroring the schema couples clients to internal details. Response models give you freedom to refactor.

Further reading

Google Cloud: API design guide ↗

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