What is pagination in API design and why is it important?

What is pagination in API design and why is it important?

Pagination is a technique used to divide a large dataset into smaller, manageable chunks. It's important because it improves performance and user experience by loading data in segments rather than all at once.

How do I implement pagination in my API?

You can implement pagination by using query parameters like 'page' and 'limit' to specify which subset of data to return. For example, /items?page=2&limit=10 would return the second set of 10 items.

What are some common pagination strategies?

Common strategies include offset-based pagination, cursor-based pagination, and keyset pagination. Each has its pros and cons depending on the use case.

Can you explain cursor-based pagination?

Cursor-based pagination uses a unique identifier to mark the position of the last item returned. This allows for more efficient data retrieval, especially in large datasets.