api-patterns
API design principles and decision-making. REST vs GraphQL vs tRPC selection, response formats, versioning, pagination.
API Patterns
API design decisions tied to the consumers and deployment constraints.
Learn to THINK, not copy fixed patterns.
🎯 Selective Reading Rule
Read ONLY files relevant to the request! Check the content map, find what you need.
📑 Content Map
| File | Description | When to Read |
|---|---|---|
api-style.md | REST vs GraphQL vs tRPC decision tree | Choosing API type |
rest.md | Resource naming, HTTP methods, status codes | Designing REST API |
response.md | Envelope pattern, error format, pagination | Response structure |
graphql.md | Schema design, when to use, security | Considering GraphQL |
trpc.md | TypeScript monorepo, type safety | TS fullstack projects |
versioning.md | URI/Header/Query versioning | API evolution planning |
auth.md | JWT, OAuth, Passkey, API Keys | Auth pattern selection |
rate-limiting.md | Token bucket, sliding window | API protection |
documentation.md | OpenAPI/Swagger best practices | Documentation |
security-testing.md | OWASP API Top 10, auth/authz testing | Security audits |
🔗 Related Skills
| Need | Skill |
|---|---|
| API implementation | @[skills/backend-architect] |
| Data structure | @[skills/database-design] |
| Security details | @[skills/api-security-best-practices] |
✅ Decision Checklist
Before designing
Subscribers only
The full skill, its 12 bundled files and every download is included with every paid Complete AI plan.
Details
| Source | community |
|---|---|
| License | — |
| Risk label | none ("critical" means the skill may run commands or touch files — read before use) |
| Files | SKILL.md, api-style.md, auth.md, documentation.md, graphql.md, rate-limiting.md, response.md, rest.md, scripts/api_validator.py, security-testing.md, trpc.md, versioning.md |
| Added | 2026-02-27 |
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