Developers

Idempotency in Order Creation

In this section, we will discuss the importance of idempotency in our API, particularly focusing on the 'create order' endpoint.

What is Idempotency?

Idempotency is a crucial property of API endpoints, ensuring that repeated identical requests have the same effect as a single request. This is especially important when dealing with orders and transactions to prevent duplicates and maintain data consistency.

Implementing Idempotency in the 'Create Order' Endpoint

To maintain idempotency in our 'create order' endpoint, we utilize the external_id field in the request payload. This unique identifier serves as a way to recognize and handle duplicate requests.
When an order is created with a specific external_id, any subsequent requests with the same external_id will be recognized by the system. If the initial request was processed successfully, the subsequent requests simply return the successful order, preventing the creation of duplicate orders.

Benefits of Idempotency

Implementing idempotency in your API offers several benefits:
  1. Data Consistency: By preventing duplicate orders, idempotency ensures that your system maintains accurate and consistent data.
  2. Simplified Error Recovery: If a request fails due to network issues or other transient errors, you can safely retry the request without worrying about creating duplicate orders.
  3. Reliable Deliverability: Idempotency guarantees that an order is processed only once, even if the request is sent multiple times, ensuring reliable delivery of orders.

Best Practices

To effectively implement idempotency in your API, consider the following best practices:
  • Use a unique, client-generated identifier for the external_id field.
  • Ensure that the external_id is included in all relevant requests and responses.
  • Design your system to handle idempotency at the application level, rather than relying solely on the database or other infrastructure components.