MEAN RESTful API Design with Node.js and Express

Question 1

According to REST principles, which HTTP method should be used for a partial update of a resource (modifying only some fields)?

Accepted Answer

PATCH

Answer

PATCH is used for partial updates — only the provided fields are changed. PUT replaces the entire resource, meaning omitted fields would be deleted or set to defaults. POST creates new resources. UPDATE is not a valid HTTP method.

Question 2

Which HTTP status code should a RESTful Express API return when a resource is successfully created via a POST request?

Accepted Answer

201 Created

Answer

201 Created is the correct status for a successful POST that results in a new resource. The response should also include a Location header pointing to the new resource's URL. 200 OK is for successful GET/PUT/PATCH; 204 is for successful DELETE with no response body.

Question 3

What is the recommended approach for versioning a REST API in an Express application?

Accepted Answer

Include the version in the URL path, e.g., `/api/v1/users`

Answer

URL path versioning (/api/v1/, /api/v2/) is the most widely adopted approach because it is explicit, easy to route in Express with router.use('/v1', v1Router), easy to test, and visible in logs and browser history. Header-based versioning is an alternative but less discoverable.

Question 4

In a RESTful API, what should the response body contain when returning HTTP 204 No Content?

Accepted Answer

An empty body — no content should be sent

Answer

204 No Content explicitly means the server successfully processed the request but has no content to return. Sending a body with a 204 response violates the HTTP spec and may be ignored or cause errors in some clients. It is commonly used for successful DELETE operations.

Question 5

When designing a REST API endpoint to retrieve all orders for a specific user, which URL structure best follows REST conventions?

Accepted Answer

/api/users/123/orders

Answer

REST favors noun-based hierarchical resource paths rather than verb-based URLs. /users/123/orders clearly expresses the relationship: orders belonging to user 123. Verb-based paths like getUserOrders or getByUser are RPC-style, not RESTful.

MEAN - Stack Development Practice Test

MEAN - Stack Development Practice Test

MEAN RESTful API Design with Node.js and Express