API Pagination with Limit and Offset

Implement bounded limit/offset pagination with deterministic ordering. The examples separate the essential operation from the conditions a production implementation must enforce.

What It Does

Implement bounded limit/offset pagination with deterministic ordering.

Prerequisites

Use a dedicated development environment with test accounts and records. Separate authorization, validation and error handling from response formatting; never copy demonstration-only secrets into production.

Example 1: Core Behavior

The first example isolates the core operation so its result is easy to understand.

<?php
$limit = min(100, max(1, (int) ($_GET['limit'] ?? 20)));
$offset = max(0,(int) ($_GET['offset'] ?? 0));
echo json_encode(compact('limit','offset'));

Example 2: Alternative or Failure Case

The second example demonstrates an alternative outcome, rule or failure condition.

<?php
$page = max(1, (int) ($_GET['page'] ?? 1)); $perPage=25;
$offset = ($page-1)*$perPage;
echo "LIMIT $perPage OFFSET $offset";

Practical Example: Applying the Rule

The practical example shows how to carry the same constraint into application code.

<?php
$products=range(1,73); $limit=10; $offset=20;
echo json_encode(['items'=>array_slice($products,$offset,$limit),'nextOffset'=>count($products)>$offset+$limit?$offset+$limit:null]);

Important Behavior and Edge Cases

Large offsets can be slow and concurrent inserts can shift page boundaries.

Comparison with Related Functions or Patterns

Common Beginner Mistakes

Key Takeaways

• Implement bounded limit/offset pagination with deterministic ordering.
• Large offsets can be slow and concurrent inserts can shift page boundaries.
• Cursor pagination is preferable for deep or frequently changing result sets.

Select this API or pattern based on its documented behavior and the trust boundaries in your own application, and test all external integrations against their actual deployments.