Understanding APIs Through Errors JSON and Status Codes

I used to joke that APIs are like introverts at a party: you never know if they’ll respond or ignore you entirely. When I first started learning about them, I felt exactly like that completely in the dark. Over time, I’ve gradually improved. I’ve learned how GET and POST requests work, how to handle errors in JSON, and why sending the correct HTTP status codes matters. These may seem small, but they make your API predictable, professional, and friendly for anyone consuming it. Here are a few key lessons I’ve learned: GET vs POST: GET retrieves data, POST sends data. Using them correctly is the foundation of any API. Error Handling: Clear error messages in JSON help clients understand what went wrong and how to fix it. Status Codes Matter: Using the right HTTP status code communicates the result of a request without needing to dig into the response body. Examples: 200 OK – request succeeded 400 Bad Request – client sent invalid data 401 Unauthorized – authentication required or failed H