API Error Handling Best Practices
Learn API error handling best practices including proper HTTP status code usage, error response formats, and client-side error handling patterns.
Proper API error handling improves developer experience and debugging. Use appropriate HTTP status codes: 400 for bad requests, 401 for unauthorized, 403 for forbidden, 404 for not found, 429 for rate limiting, 500 for server errors. Include detailed error messages in responses with error codes, descriptions, and suggested fixes. Use our <a href="/status-codes">HTTP status code reference</a> for all code meanings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are API error handling best practices?
Use proper HTTP status codes, include descriptive error messages, provide error codes, and implement consistent error response format.
What status code should I return?
Use 4xx for client errors, 5xx for server errors. See our <a href="/status-code/400">400 guide</a> and <a href="/status-code/500">500 guide</a>.
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