<ul data-eligibleForWebStory="true">REST API design is essential for creating scalable, maintainable, and user-friendly interfaces.Statelessness is crucial for scalability as it enables horizontal scaling and simplifies caching.Resource-oriented design focuses on nouns (resources) rather than verbs to create better endpoints.Hypermedia (HATEOAS) guides clients on how to interact with APIs, improving discoverability and future-proofing.Using proper HTTP status codes like 200, 201, and 400 is essential for effective communication.Versioning helps avoid breaking changes with industry-standard approaches like URL Path or Header.Pagination should be implemented correctly to manage large datasets efficiently.API security goes beyond basic auth and includes techniques like JWT/OAuth 2.0 and input validation.APIs designed with these principles can scale, reduce support tickets, and get adopted faster by developer communities.Great APIs are built by developers who understand and apply these fundamental principles.