Pagination is a technique used to split large datasets into smaller, manageable chunks. In REST APIs, there are several types of pagination methods. Here’s a brief overview of each:
| Pagination Type | Description | Example | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offset-Based Pagination | Client specifies an offset and a limit to fetch a specific range of results. | GET /items?offset=20&limit=10 | Simple to implement. | Can be inefficient for large datasets as it requires skipping through a potentially large number of records. |
| Cursor-Based Pagination | API uses a cursor (often a token) to fetch results based on a specific position in the dataset. | GET /items?cursor=abc123 | More efficient for large datasets and avoids issues with data consistency. | More complex to implement and requires maintaining state. |
| Page-Based Pagination | Client specifies a page number and page size to get results for that specific page. | GET /items?page=2&size=10 | Easy to understand and use. | Can be inefficient for large datasets if pages are skipped. |
| Keyset-Based Pagination | Uses unique keys or identifiers to paginate through results. The client provides a key from the last item of the previous page. | GET /items?start_after=abc123 | Efficient and avoids issues with data consistency. | Requires a unique and sequential key and can be complex to implement. |
| Time-Based Pagination | Pagination based on time or timestamps. The client requests items before or after a specific timestamp. | GET /items?before=2024-09-01T00:00:00Z&limit=10 | Useful for datasets where items are time-stamped, such as logs or event data. | Requires careful handling of time zones and daylight saving time. |
| Hybrid Pagination | Combines multiple pagination strategies, such as offset-based with cursor-based, to leverage the strengths of each. | GET /items?offset=20&limit=10&cursor=abc123 | Flexibility to handle diverse use cases and improve performance. | Complex to implement and maintain. |
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