API Design Roadmap

A structured learning path for mastering modern API design.

Overview

This roadmap outlines the core concepts, tools, and patterns involved in API design. Follow the sections below to build a strong foundation and progress toward advanced knowledge in designing robust, scalable APIs.

Roadmap

1. Learn the Basics

• What are APIs
• HTTP
• HTTP Versions
• HTTP Methods
• HTTP Status Codes
• HTTP Headers
• Cookies
• CORS
• HTTP Caching
• URL, Query & Path Parameters
• Content Negotiation
• Understand TCP / IP
• Basics of DNS

1. Different API Styles

• RESTful APIs
• Simple JSON APIs
• SOAP APIs
• GraphQL APIs
• gRPC APIs

1. Building JSON / RESTful APIs

• REST Principles
• URI Design
• Versioning Strategies
• Handling CRUD Operations
• Pagination
• Rate Limiting
• Idempotency
• HATEOAS
• Error Handling

1. API Authentication and Authorization

• Authentication Methods
  • Basic Auth
  • Token Based Auth
  • JWT
  • OAuth 2.0
  • Session Based Auth
• Authorization Methods
  • Role Based Access Control (RBAC)
  • Attribute Based Access Control (ABAC)
• API Keys & Management
• RFC 7807-Problem Details for APIs

1. API Security

• Common Vulnerabilities
• Best Practices

1. API Performance

• Performance Metrics
• Caching Strategies
• Load Balancing
• Rate Limiting / Throttling
• Profiling and Monitoring
• Performance Testing
• Error Handling / Retries
• Best Practices

1. API Integration Patterns

• Synchronous vs Asynchronous APIs
• Event Driven Architecture
• API Gateways
• Microservices Architecture
• Webhooks vs Polling
• Batch Processing
• Messaging Queues
  • Rabbit MQ
  • Kafka

1. API Testing

• Unit Testing
• Integration Testing
• Functional Testing
• Load Testing
• Mocking APIs
• Contract Testing

1. API Documentation Tools

• Swagger / Open API
• Readme.com
• Stoplight
• Postman

1. API Lifecycle Management

• GDPR
• CCPA
• PCI DSS
• HIPAA
• PII
• Standards and Compliance

1. Real Time APIs

• Web Sockets
• Server Sent Events

Notes

Use this roadmap to guide your study. Tackle each section one-by-one, build projects as you go, and write source notes to deepen your understanding.