What is error handling?

This includes mechanisms that help detect, manage, and respond to any unexpected situations when sending API requests and receiving API responses.

Error codes indicate if there's something wrong with the API request or if the API couldn’t parse the received data. API solutions or platforms offer effective error handling and fallback mechanisms, as these processes help to ensure a reliable, stable, and consistent experience for end-users.

Key aspects of error handling

• HTTP status codes: APIs use HTTP status codes to indicate the outcome of an API request. If an error occurs, a specific status code will communicate the nature of the error. For example, a 404 status code signifies that the requested resource was not found, while a 500 status code indicates an internal server error.

• Error response payload: API responses often include an error payload that provides additional information about errors that arise. This may include error codes, error messages, timestamps, and relevant details to help the client application understand what caused the error. Well-designed APIs include clear and consistent error response formats to ensure proper error handling on the client side.

• Error handling policies: Well-defined policies ensure a consistent response to errors across different APIs. An API platform allows you to configure error-handling policies, and define how errors are presented to client applications. These policies can include actions such as error logging for troubleshooting and fallback mechanisms for handling specific errors.

• Rate limiting and throttling: Rate limiting and throttling allows you to control the number of requests that can be made to an API within a certain timeframe. If rate limits are exceeded, the API will return specific error responses (e.g., 429 - Too Many Requests) to indicate that the client application has reached its limit. Rate limiting and throttling help protect APIs from abuse and prevent service disruptions.

• Documentation: Developers should have access to clear and detailed documentation that explains potential errors, their causes, and the recommended steps to mitigate or resolve them. API documentation can be found in the provider’s developer portal.

Error handling is a critical aspect of API management that helps ensure a seamless experience for developers and app users. When using a fully-managed API service, the API provider takes care of error handling.