5 API URL Structure Mistakes That Drive Clients Crazy

Your API URL structure matters more than you think. Bad URLs don't just confuse developers — they break integrations, hurt SEO, and make your API hard to maintain.

1. Using Verbs in URLs

❌ Bad: /getUsers, /createPost, /deleteUser/123

✅ Good: GET /users, POST /posts, DELETE /users/123

HTTP methods already express the action. Let them do their job.

2. Inconsistent Resource Naming

❌ Bad: /users, /post_comments, /OrderItems, /customer_addresses

✅ Good: /users, /comments, /orders, /addresses

Pick ONE convention (usually plural, kebab-case) and stick with it across your entire API.

3. Nested Too Deep

❌ Bad: /users/123/orders/456/items/789

✅ Good: /orders/456 (include user context in the order)

Three or more levels of nesting is a red flag. Flatten your resources when possible.

4. Wrong Pluralization

❌ Bad: /user/123, /category/all, /news (for one item)

✅ Good: /users/123, /categories, /news/abc123

• Collection endpoints: plural (/users)
• Single resources: plural + ID (/users/123)
• Always be consistent

5. No Versioning Strategy

❌ Bad: /api/users (can't evolve)

✅ Good: /v1/users or /api/v1/users

Version in the URL path, not query params or headers. It's the clearest approach for API consumers.

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Quick Reference

✅ GET    /users          # list users
✅ GET    /users/123      # get one user
✅ POST   /users          # create user
✅ PUT    /users/123      # update user
✅ DELETE /users/123      # delete user

❌ GET    /getUsers
❌ GET    /user/123
❌ POST   /createUser

Bottom line: Predictable URLs = better developer experience. Your clients will thank you.