This repository defines the specification for JSON:API, a standardized format for building APIs with JSON. The goal is to minimize bikeshedding and inconsistency by giving developers a well-documented schema for requests and responses. It specifies how to represent resources, relationships, pagination, sorting, filtering, and metadata in a predictable way. Clients and servers that follow the spec can interoperate seamlessly without custom glue code for every new service. JSON:API also emphasizes efficiency, recommending ways to reduce payload size and minimize the number of requests. Over time it has become a widely adopted contract for RESTful APIs, helping teams save time and avoid fragmentation across microservices and third-party integrations.
Features
- Standardized request/response format for RESTful JSON APIs
- Minimizes requests and payload through compound documents and inclusion
- Defines conventions for pagination, sorting, filtering, and linking resources
- Supports extensible profiles and optional extensions for custom needs
- Promotes discoverability via consistent metadata and link structures
- Widely adopted and tool-supported within API ecosystems