rest-api-design
Design RESTful APIs following best practices for resource modeling, HTTP methods, status codes, versioning, and documentation. Use when creating new APIs, designing endpoints, or improving existing API architecture.
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/aj-geddes/useful-ai-prompts --skill rest-api-design- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads rest-api-design automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
REST API Design
Table of Contents
Overview
Design REST APIs that are intuitive, consistent, and follow industry best practices for resource-oriented architecture.
When to Use
- Designing new RESTful APIs
- Creating endpoint structures
- Defining request/response formats
- Implementing API versioning
- Documenting API specifications
- Refactoring existing APIs
Quick Start
Minimal working example:
✅ Good Resource Names (Nouns, Plural)
GET /api/users
GET /api/users/123
GET /api/users/123/orders
POST /api/products
DELETE /api/products/456
❌ Bad Resource Names (Verbs, Inconsistent)
GET /api/getUsers
POST /api/createProduct
GET /api/user/123 (inconsistent singular/plural)
Reference Guides
Detailed implementations in the references/ directory:
| Guide | Contents |
|---|---|
| Resource Naming | Resource Naming, HTTP Methods & Operations |
| Request Examples | Request Examples |
| Query Parameters | Query Parameters |
| Response Formats | Response Formats |
| HTTP Status Codes | HTTP Status Codes, API Versioning, Authentication & Security, Rate Limiting Headers |
| OpenAPI Documentation | OpenAPI Documentation |
| Complete Example: Express.js | const express = require("express"); |
Best Practices
✅ DO
- Use nouns for resources, not verbs
- Use plural names for collections
- Be consistent with naming conventions
- Return appropriate HTTP status codes
- Include pagination for collections
- Provide filtering and sorting options
- Version your API
- Document thoroughly with OpenAPI
- Use HTTPS
- Implement rate limiting
- Provide clear error messages
- Use ISO 8601 for dates
❌ DON'T
- Use verbs in endpoint names
- Return 200 for errors
- Expose internal IDs unnecessarily
- Over-nest resources (max 2 levels)
- Use inconsistent naming
- Forget authentication
- Return sensitive data
- Break backward compatibility without versioning
FAQ
What does the rest-api-design skill do?
Design RESTful APIs following best practices for resource modeling, HTTP methods, status codes, versioning, and documentation. Use when creating new APIs, designing endpoints, or improving existing API architecture.
How do I install rest-api-design?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/aj-geddes/useful-ai-prompts --skill rest-api-design in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/rest-api-design/ (personal) or .claude/skills/rest-api-design/ (project).
Which AI agents can use rest-api-design?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is rest-api-design safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains rest-api-design?
It is published by aj-geddes in aj-geddes/useful-ai-prompts. It has 2,073 recorded installs.
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