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What is your preferred API error response and why? (lemy.lol)
submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by to c/programming@programming.dev
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I prefer simplicity and using the first example but I'd be happy to hear other options. Here's a few examples:

HTTP/1.1 403 POST /endpoint
{ "message": "Unauthorized access" }

HTTP/1.1 403 POST /endpoint
Unauthorized access (no json)

HTTP/1.1 403 POST /endpoint
{ "error": "Unauthorized access" }

HTTP/1.1 403 POST /endpoint
{
  "code": "UNAUTHORIZED",
  "message": "Unauthorized access",
}

HTTP/1.1 200 (🤡) POST /endpoint
{
  "error": true,
  "message": "Unauthorized access",
}

HTTP/1.1 403 POST /endpoint
{
  "status": 403,
  "code": "UNAUTHORIZED",
  "message": "Unauthorized access",
}

Or your own example.

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[–] 4 points 2 years ago*

For me it just depends on what I expect. They're all relatively the same thing. As long as the status code is appropriate (403), it doesn't matter whether it's JSON or plaintext. Ideally the API would respect and handle the request header, and return plaintext if you request plaintext.

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