"Best" practice for restful POST response

The Best Practice for RESTful POST Response 😎

So you're creating a new resource by making a POST request to /books, and you're wondering what should be returned in the response body. Let's dive into this common question and find the best practice together! 📚

Option 1: Return the Entire Resource ✨

One option is to include the entire resource in the response body, like this:

{
  "id": 12345,
  "title": "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe",
  "author": "C. S. Lewis"
}

🎯 Why You Might Prefer This Approach:

1. Simplified Client Logic: If your front-end framework, like AngularJS, requires the resource ID to locate it, returning the ID in the response body can save you from parsing it out of the Location header. 🧩

2. Consistency with GET Requests: If you typically return the entire resource in a GET request for all books, returning it in the POST response as well ensures consistency in your codebase. 💪

🚫 Potential Drawbacks:

1. Increased Payload Size: Returning the entire resource in the response might result in a larger payload. This can be a concern if you're dealing with large resources or aiming for network efficiency. ⚡️

2. Future Resource Changes: If the server changes or adds information to the resource, you might risk inconsistency between the response body and the actual resource. 😕

Option 2: Return Only the Resource ID 🆔

Another approach is to return only the ID of the newly created resource:

{
  "id": 12345
}

🎯 Why You Might Prefer This Approach:

1. Minimizing Payload: By returning only the ID, you reduce the response payload size and increase network efficiency, particularly if the resource is large or contains sensitive data. 📉

2. Separation of Concerns: Separate the responsibility of fetching the full resource by making a subsequent GET request to /books/12345. This can be beneficial if you want to avoid potential inconsistencies in the response body. 🔍

🚫 Potential Drawbacks:

1. Additional Request: Returning only the ID requires the client to make an extra request to retrieve the full resource. This may introduce latency and extra network overhead. 🔄

2. Client-Side Complexity: The client code needs to handle the logic of making the additional GET request to fetch the full resource. This can add complexity to your codebase. 🤔

Choosing the Best Practice 🤔

Ultimately, the best practice depends on your specific use case and requirements. Consider the following factors when making your decision:

1. Resource Size: If your resources are relatively small, returning the entire resource in the response might not be a significant concern.

2. Network Efficiency: If minimizing payload and reducing round trips are important for your application's performance, returning only the ID can be a good option.

3. Front-End Frameworks: Take into account any requirements or conventions of your front-end framework, as it may influence your decision.

🚀 Take Action!

Now that we've explored the options, it's time for you to decide which approach fits your needs best. Consider your specific scenario, such as payload size, network efficiency, and front-end framework requirements.

📣 Share Your Thoughts!

We'd love to hear your opinion on this topic! What approach do you currently use, and why? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below. Let's learn from each other! 💬

So, which POST response practice will you choose? Let us know and keep building amazing RESTful APIs! 👩‍💻👨‍💻✨