[Solved] You are designing a REST API response for a blog post that must include related links to author and comments. Which JSON structure correctly represents these links following REST best practices? | Rest API

Rest API - HATEOAS and Linking

You are designing a REST API response for a blog post that must include related links to author and comments. Which JSON structure correctly represents these links following REST best practices?

A{ "post": { "id": 101, "title": "REST API Design", "links": { "author": {"href": "/authors/12"}, "comments": {"href": "/posts/101/comments"} } } }

B{ "post": { "id": 101, "title": "REST API Design", "author_link": "/authors/12", "comments_link": "/posts/101/comments" } }

C{ "post": { "id": 101, "title": "REST API Design", "related": [ "/authors/12", "/posts/101/comments" ] } }

D{ "post": { "id": 101, "title": "REST API Design", "links": [ {"author": "/authors/12"}, {"comments": "/posts/101/comments"} ] } }

Step-by-Step Solution

Solution:

Step 1: Identify best practice for related links
Related resource links should be grouped under a links object with named keys and href values.
Step 2: Analyze each option
{ "post": { "id": 101, "title": "REST API Design", "links": { "author": {"href": "/authors/12"}, "comments": {"href": "/posts/101/comments"} } } } correctly nests links under "links" with href objects. { "post": { "id": 101, "title": "REST API Design", "author_link": "/authors/12", "comments_link": "/posts/101/comments" } } uses separate keys without grouping. { "post": { "id": 101, "title": "REST API Design", "related": [ "/authors/12", "/posts/101/comments" ] } } uses an array of URLs without keys, losing clarity. { "post": { "id": 101, "title": "REST API Design", "links": [ {"author": "/authors/12"}, {"comments": "/posts/101/comments"} ] } } uses an array of objects but keys are inside objects, which is less standard.
Final Answer:
{ "post": { "id": 101, "title": "REST API Design", "links": { "author": {"href": "/authors/12"}, "comments": {"href": "/posts/101/comments"} } } } provides the clearest, most RESTful structure.
Quick Check:
Links grouped under "links" with href objects is standard [OK]

Quick Trick: Group related links under a 'links' object with href keys [OK]

Common Mistakes:

MISTAKES

Using arrays without keys for related links
Not grouping links under a dedicated object
Using separate keys instead of a links container

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More Rest API Quizzes

You are designing a REST API response for a blog post that must include related links to author and comments. Which JSON structure correctly represents these links following REST best practices?

Step 1: Identify best practice for related links

Step 2: Analyze each option

Final Answer:

Quick Check:

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