Link headers for navigation in Rest API - Step-by-Step Execution

Concept Flow - Link headers for navigation

Client sends request

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Server processes request

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Server adds Link header

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Client receives response

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Client reads Link header

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Client uses URLs for navigation

The client requests data, the server responds with a Link header containing URLs for navigation, and the client uses these links to move between pages.

Execution Sample

Rest API

HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Link: <https://api.example.com/items?page=2>; rel="next", <https://api.example.com/items?page=5>; rel="last"

This response shows how the server includes Link headers to tell the client where the next and last pages are.

Execution Table

Step	Action	Header Content	Client Interpretation
1	Client sends request for page 1	-	Waiting for response
2	Server processes request	-	Preparing data for page 1
3	Server adds Link header	<https://api.example.com/items?page=2>; rel="next", <https://api.example.com/items?page=5>; rel="last"	Includes URLs for next and last pages
4	Client receives response	Link header present	Reads Link header
5	Client uses Link header	Uses URLs from Link header	Navigates to next or last page using provided URLs
6	Client requests next page	-	Repeats process for page 2
7	Process repeats until last page	-	Navigation complete

💡 Client stops when no 'next' link is provided in Link header

Variable Tracker

Variable	Start	After Step 3	After Step 4	After Step 5	Final
Link Header	None	<https://api.example.com/items?page=2>; rel="next", <https://api.example.com/items?page=5>; rel="last"	Read by client	Used for navigation	Updated or None if last page

Key Moments - 3 Insights

Why does the Link header contain URLs in angle brackets <>?

The angle brackets <> clearly mark the URL boundaries in the Link header, so the client can correctly identify the URL separate from the rel attribute. See Step 3 in the execution_table.

What does the rel="next" mean in the Link header?

It tells the client that the URL inside the angle brackets is the next page to request. This helps the client navigate pages easily. See Step 3 and Step 5 in the execution_table.

What happens if the Link header does not have a rel="next" link?

The client understands there is no next page and stops requesting more pages. This is shown in the exit_note and Step 7.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution_table at Step 3, what URLs are included in the Link header?

A https://api.example.com/items?page=2 and https://api.example.com/items?page=5

B https://api.example.com/items?page=1 and https://api.example.com/items?page=3

C https://api.example.com/items?page=3 and https://api.example.com/items?page=4

D No URLs are included

💡 Hint

Check the 'Header Content' column at Step 3 in the execution_table

At which step does the client read the Link header?

A Step 2

B Step 4

C Step 5

D Step 1

💡 Hint

Look at the 'Client Interpretation' column in the execution_table

If the server removes the rel="next" link, what will happen according to the exit_note?

A Client will keep requesting pages endlessly

B Client will request the last page only

C Client will stop requesting more pages

D Client will throw an error

💡 Hint

See the exit_note about when the client stops

Concept Snapshot

Link headers help clients navigate paged API results.
Syntax: Link: <URL>; rel="next", <URL>; rel="last"
Angle brackets <> mark URLs.
rel attribute tells the link type (next, prev, last).
Client reads Link header to find next page URL.
Stops when no next link is present.

Full Transcript

When a client requests data from a server, the server can include a Link header in its response. This header contains URLs inside angle brackets, each followed by a rel attribute describing the link's purpose, such as "next" for the next page or "last" for the last page. The client reads this Link header to know where to go next. For example, if the Link header includes <https://api.example.com/items?page=2>; rel="next", the client knows to request page 2 next. This process repeats until the Link header no longer contains a rel="next" link, signaling the client to stop requesting more pages. This method helps clients navigate paged data easily and clearly.