Thoroughly document how your API endpoints handle data binding and processing, especially non-obvious behaviors that affect how client data is mapped to server-side structures. This includes:
Thoroughly document how your API endpoints handle data binding and processing, especially non-obvious behaviors that affect how client data is mapped to server-side structures. This includes:
form:"-"
)For example, when implementing binding in a web framework like Gin, include explanatory comments:
// Person represents data received from API clients
type Person struct {
Name string `form:"name"`
Address string `form:"address"`
InternalID string `form:"-"` // This field won't be populated from form data
}
func handleRequest(c *gin.Context) {
var person Person
// Document binding behavior:
// If `GET`, only `Form` binding engine (`query`) used.
// If `POST`, first checks the `content-type` for `JSON` or `XML`, then uses `Form` (`form-data`).
if c.Bind(&person) == nil {
// Process the data
}
}
Clear API behavior documentation reduces friction for API consumers, minimizes unexpected behaviors, and reduces support burden for your team.
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