API Design · Senior · Question 41 of 75

Why might an API use resource-oriented 'custom methods' like `POST /orders/42:cancel`?

✓Correct answer: Some operations don't fit CRUD; a named method keeps the resource model while making business actions explicit and auditable
2Colons are required in REST
3To avoid using HTTP methods

Explanation

Google's AIP-136 describes custom methods; other guides use sub-resources like /orders/42/cancellation.

Further reading

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