API Design for Interoperability and Usability
API Design for Interoperability and Usability APIs are agreements between teams, tools, and services. A well designed API serves many clients today and stays useful tomorrow. The two guiding goals are interoperability and usability. Interoperability means others can connect with you using common standards. Usability means developers can learn and use the API quickly, with fewer surprises. Start with a clear contract, then protect it as your product evolves. Interoperability comes from shared standards and predictable patterns. Use JSON as the primary data format and OpenAPI to describe the surface of the API. A clear versioning strategy lets teams adapt without breaking existing clients. Put the version in the URL like /v1/ or in a header, and document how and when changes appear. Provide a migration path for old clients, including deprecation notices and sample transitions. Aim for backwards compatibility whenever possible. Rely on standard error formats and consistent security practices to avoid surprises across tools. ...