Best format guide
Best Data Format for APIs
JSON remains the default for most APIs, with Proto for strongly typed high-throughput services.
Recommendation
Choose the default first.
Decision factors
Ground the recommendation in constraints.
Decision Factors
- Client ecosystem and tooling compatibility.
- Need for strict contract typing and generated clients.
- Payload size/performance requirements at scale.
- Debuggability requirements for support operations.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Picking a binary format without considering debugging burden.
- Skipping versioning/backward-compatibility strategy.
- Mixing schema evolution policies across services.
FAQ
Answer the common objections directly.
What is the primary recommendation in this guide?
JSON is the recommended default for this use case.
How should teams validate this format choice?
Use sample fixtures and manifest endpoints to test compatibility, performance, and conversion behavior in production-like conditions.