Cursor-based pagination in Rest API - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is cursor-based pagination?

Cursor-based pagination is a method to split large sets of data into smaller parts using a unique identifier (cursor) to mark the position for the next set of results.

intermediate

How does cursor-based pagination differ from offset-based pagination?

Cursor-based pagination uses a unique cursor to track the current position, making it more efficient and reliable for large or changing datasets, while offset-based pagination uses page numbers and offsets which can cause duplicates or missing data if the dataset changes.

beginner

What is a typical structure of a cursor in cursor-based pagination?

A cursor is usually an encoded string representing a unique value like a timestamp or an ID from the last item in the current page, which the server uses to fetch the next set of results.

intermediate

Why is cursor-based pagination better for real-time data?

Because it uses a stable cursor to mark the last seen item, it avoids skipping or repeating items even if new data is added or removed while paginating.

advanced

What is a common challenge when implementing cursor-based pagination?

A common challenge is designing a cursor that is both secure and opaque, so users cannot guess or manipulate it, often requiring encoding or encryption.

What does a cursor represent in cursor-based pagination?

A The size of each page

B The total number of pages

C A unique position marker for the next page

D The current page number

The cursor marks the position in the data to fetch the next set of results.

Which problem does cursor-based pagination solve better than offset-based pagination?

A Handling data changes during pagination

B Displaying total number of pages

C Sorting data alphabetically

D Caching static pages

Cursor-based pagination handles data changes without skipping or repeating items.

What is usually encoded in a cursor string?

A Page size

B User password

C Total number of items

D Unique ID or timestamp of the last item

The cursor encodes a unique identifier like an ID or timestamp to mark position.

Why might cursor-based pagination be more secure when the cursor is encoded?

A Prevents users from guessing or changing the cursor

B Makes the API faster

C Allows unlimited page sizes

D Shows total item count

Encoding the cursor keeps it opaque and prevents tampering.

Which is a typical use case for cursor-based pagination?

A Displaying static product catalogs

B Loading social media feeds

C Showing a fixed list of countries

D Printing a PDF report

Social media feeds often update in real-time, making cursor pagination ideal.

Explain how cursor-based pagination works and why it is useful for APIs dealing with large or changing data.

Think about how you keep track of where you left off in a long list.

Describe the difference between cursor-based and offset-based pagination and when you might choose one over the other.

Consider what happens if new items are added while you browse pages.