Essential REST API Design Patterns

Must know patterns for software developers

Designing REST APIs isn’t just about connecting endpoints and throwing data around — it’s about creating a robust, maintainable system that developers love to use. Whether you’re building internal microservices or public APIs for millions of users, using well-established design patterns helps ensure consistency, performance, and ease of use.

This article breaks down some key REST API design patterns every backend developer should know.

1. Resource-Based Pattern

This pattern involves designing your API endpoints around resources, which are usually nouns representing real-world entities like users, products, or orders. HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) are used to perform actions on these resources.

GET /users/42 //Retrieves the details of the user with ID 42.

POST /orders //Creates a new order.

It aligns closely with REST principles and HTTP conventions. This makes it easier for developers to predict behavior, integrate with existing tools, and maintain consistency across services.

What it achieves: A clear, intuitive API structure that is easy to document, extend, and consume. It separates concerns between resource identification and…