How to design API for large system?

Question

Ravi Vishwakarma · Answer

Designing an API for a large system requires planning, scalability, security, versioning, and maintainability. In interviews, this question checks your system design knowledge, not only coding. 1. Follow RESTful API Design Principles Use standard HTTP methods. Method Use GET Read data POST Create PUT Update DELETE Remove Example: Easy to understandStandardScalable 2. Use Layered Architecture (Important for Large System) Large systems should follow: Example in .NET Benefits: Separation of concernsEasy to maintainEasy to testGood for large teams 3. Use API Versioning (Very Important) Large systems must support multiple versions. Example: In .NET Core: Why needed? Old apps should not breakNew features can be added 4. Use Authentication & Authorization For large systems use: JWT TokenOAuthIdentity Server Example: Security rules: Use HTTPSValidate tokenUse role-based access 5. Use Proper Error Handling Return standard response. Good format: Use: Global Exception Middleware (.NET Core)Filters (MVC) 6. Use Logging & Monitoring Large systems must track errors. Use: SerilogNLogELKApplication Insights Log: RequestResponseErrorsExceptions 7. Use Pagination for Large Data Wrong Correct Benefits: Fast responseLess memoryGood performance 8. Use Caching For large systems caching is required. Use: RedisMemoryCacheDistributed cache Example: Cache result. 9. Use Async & Background Processing For heavy work use: QueueBackground serviceHangfireRabbitMQ Example: Email sendingReport generationFile processing 10. Use Microservices (For Very Large System) Instead of one big API: Benefits: ScalableIndependent deploymentEasy to maintain 11. Use API Gateway (Enterprise Level) Large systems use API Gateway. Example: Benefits: SecurityRoutingRate limitLogging 12. Follow Naming Convention Good: Bad: Use nouns not verbs. 13. Performance Optimization Use: Index in DBDTO instead of entitySelect only needed fieldsCompressionAsync calls

forum

How to design API for large system?

Can you answer this question?

1 Answers

1. Follow RESTful API Design Principles

2. Use Layered Architecture (Important for Large System)

3. Use API Versioning (Very Important)

4. Use Authentication & Authorization

5. Use Proper Error Handling

6. Use Logging & Monitoring

7. Use Pagination for Large Data

8. Use Caching

9. Use Async & Background Processing

10. Use Microservices (For Very Large System)

11. Use API Gateway (Enterprise Level)

12. Follow Naming Convention

13. Performance Optimization