What are some real-world examples of idempotent APIs?

What are some real-world examples of idempotent APIs?

Idempotent APIs are those that can be called multiple times without changing the result beyond the initial application. A common example is the HTTP DELETE method. If you delete a resource, calling the same DELETE request again won't change the outcome.

Can you give me another example?

Sure! The PUT method is another example. If you update a resource with the same data multiple times, the state of the resource remains the same after the first update.

Are there any specific services that use idempotent APIs?

Yes, many services use idempotent APIs. For instance, payment processing systems often use idempotent requests to ensure that a payment is only processed once, even if the request is sent multiple times.

How do idempotent APIs improve reliability?

Idempotent APIs improve reliability by allowing clients to safely retry requests without the risk of unintended side effects, ensuring consistent outcomes.