Backend Layered Architecture and API Design Questions

Covers server side layering patterns and API design best practices. Topics include controller or handler layers, service and business logic layers, data access layers, repository patterns, dependency injection, API design (RESTful, gRPC), versioning, authentication and authorization patterns, pagination and rate limiting, and when to apply specific patterns to improve maintainability and testability.

EasyTechnical

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List common API versioning strategies (URI path, header, content negotiation, custom media types). Describe pros and cons of each approach and give guidance on which to apply for public APIs, internal services, and rapidly changing prototypes.

EasyTechnical

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Define idempotency in the context of HTTP APIs. Give examples of idempotent and non-idempotent operations, and describe standard ways to implement idempotency in create/update operations, for example using idempotency keys at the controller or gateway layer.

EasyBehavioral

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Tell me about a time when you had to convince a client or internal stakeholders to accept a trade-off in the data access layer (for example, introducing caching or denormalized read models) that impacted consistency. Describe the context, options you considered, how you communicated risks and benefits to non-technical stakeholders, and the final outcome.

EasyTechnical

0 practiced

Explain dependency injection (DI). Describe the difference between constructor injection, setter injection, and service locators. For a Solutions Architect designing a layered backend, what are the advantages and potential pitfalls of using DI frameworks in service and repository layers?

EasyTechnical

0 practiced

Describe common authentication and authorization patterns used in layered backend services: OAuth2 (authorization code, client credentials), JWTs, opaque tokens with introspection, and API keys. Explain where token validation and authorization checks should occur in a layered architecture (gateway, controller, service) and why.

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