execquteexecqute
HomeOur WorkOur ServicesEngineering BlogPricing PlansAbout UsContact Us
execquteexecqute

Specialized software engineering for mission-critical systems. Building high-performance solutions that scale.

© 2026 execqute. All rights reserved.

Services

  • Our Services
  • Our Work
  • Pricing Plans

Company

  • About Us
  • Engineering Blog
  • Contact Us

Connect

  • Contact us
  • Global / Remote
Back to Blog
BackendDec 15, 20248 min read

Building Scalable REST APIs with Node.js

Learn best practices for designing and implementing REST APIs that can handle millions of requests per day.

By Execqute Team

Building Scalable REST APIs with Node.js


REST APIs are the backbone of modern web applications. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore best practices for building APIs that can scale to handle millions of requests.


1. Architecture Principles


When building scalable APIs, start with these core principles:


  • **Stateless Design**: Each request should contain all necessary information
  • **Proper HTTP Methods**: Use GET, POST, PUT, DELETE appropriately
  • **Resource-Based URLs**: Design URLs around resources, not actions
  • **Version Your API**: Always version your API from day one

  • 2. Database Optimization


    Database queries are often the bottleneck in API performance:


  • Use database indexes strategically
  • Implement connection pooling
  • Cache frequently accessed data
  • Use read replicas for heavy read workloads

  • 3. Caching Strategy


    Implement multiple layers of caching:


  • **Application-level cache**: Redis or Memcached
  • **HTTP caching**: ETags and Cache-Control headers
  • **CDN caching**: For static assets and responses

  • 4. Rate Limiting


    Protect your API from abuse:


  • Implement rate limiting per API key
  • Use sliding window algorithms
  • Return proper 429 status codes
  • Provide rate limit headers

  • 5. Monitoring and Logging


    You can't improve what you don't measure:


  • Log all requests with correlation IDs
  • Monitor response times and error rates
  • Set up alerts for anomalies
  • Use distributed tracing for microservices

  • Conclusion


    Building scalable APIs requires careful planning and continuous optimization. Start with good architecture, optimize based on metrics, and always plan for growth.


    #Node.js#API Design#Scalability

    More Articles

    AI

    Complete Guide to LLM Integration

    A comprehensive guide to integrating Large Language Models into your applications with practical examples.

    Database

    PostgreSQL Performance Optimization

    Techniques and strategies for optimizing PostgreSQL queries and improving database performance.

    Need Help With Your Project?

    We build production-grade software solutions. Get in touch to discuss your requirements.

    Contact Us