batchendpoints

Batch endpoints are API endpoints designed to accept and process multiple operations in a single request. They are commonly used to reduce network overhead and server round trips when dealing with large datasets or bulk operations. A batch endpoint typically orchestrates the processing of many items in one call, rather than requiring separate requests for each item.

A typical batch request contains a batch identifier and an array of operation records. Each item may specify an action (such as create, update, delete, or upsert), the target resource type, and the data payload. Some designs distinguish atomic batches, where either all items succeed or none do, from partial batches, where successful items are committed while failed ones are reported. Requests often use a path like POST /batch with a body such as { batchId, operations: [{ index, action, resource, data }], options: { atomic: true, timeout: 30000 } }.

Responses vary by design. Synchronous batch endpoints may return HTTP 200 with a results array that includes per-item status, resulting identifiers, and per-item error details. Asynchronous batch endpoints may return a batch status object immediately, with a URL or token to poll for completion or to register a webhook notification when processing finishes. Some systems provide both modes, depending on batch size or time constraints.

Processing considerations include idempotency, item ordering, and how to handle partial failures. Designers choose between all-or-nothing versus best-effort semantics, define maximum payload size, and specify retry and deduplication strategies. Security concerns cover authentication and authorization at the batch or per-item level, input validation, rate limiting, and auditing.

Common use cases include bulk data import, bulk updates or deletions, event or log ingestion, and analytics data ingestion. Batch endpoints are a practical tool for efficient, scalable handling of high-volume operations in modern APIs.