Designing RESTful Resource Endpoints

Use nouns for resources and standard HTTP verbs for state transitions. The examples separate the essential operation from the conditions a production implementation must enforce.

What It Does

Use nouns for resources and standard HTTP verbs for state transitions.

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

This scenario applies the exact rule described in the guide, with controlled sample values.

<?php
$method="GET"; $path="/items/12"; if($method==="GET"&&preg_match("#^/items/([0-9]+)$#",$path,$m)) echo "Read resource ".$m[1];

Example 2: Alternative or Failure Case

This scenario applies the exact rule described in the guide, with controlled sample values.

<?php
$method="DELETE"; $authorized=true; if(!$authorized){http_response_code(403);exit;} http_response_code(204); echo "Delete only after persistence succeeds";

Practical Example: Applying the Rule

This scenario applies the exact rule described in the guide, with controlled sample values.

<?php
$resource=["id"=>9,"url"=>"/items/9"]; header("Content-Type: application/json"); echo json_encode($resource);

Important Behavior and Edge Cases

HTTP method semantics, idempotency and error codes should remain consistent across resources.

Comparison with Related Functions or Patterns

Common Beginner Mistakes

Key Takeaways

• Use nouns for resources and standard HTTP verbs for state transitions.
• HTTP method semantics, idempotency and error codes should remain consistent across resources.
• RPC-like action routes may suit workflows that are not naturally resources.

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.