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Best Practices

Follow these best practices to optimize your use of FullHunt's APIs and platform.

API Usage Best Practices​

Authentication & Security​

  • Store API keys securely: Never hardcode API keys in your source code
  • Use environment variables: Store sensitive credentials in environment variables
  • Rotate keys regularly: Update your API keys periodically for security
  • Monitor key usage: Track API key usage in your account dashboard

Rate Limiting & Performance​

  • Respect rate limits: Stay within your plan's rate limits to avoid throttling
  • Implement retry logic: Use exponential backoff for rate-limited requests
  • Cache responses: Cache API responses when appropriate to reduce calls
  • Batch requests: When possible, batch multiple queries into single requests

Error Handling​

  • Handle all HTTP status codes: Implement proper error handling for all response codes. See our API Error Codes guide for a complete list.
  • Log errors appropriately: Log errors with sufficient detail for debugging
  • Implement timeouts: Set appropriate timeouts for API requests
  • Validate input data: Validate data before sending to the API

Data Management​

Data Processing​

  • Validate API responses: Always validate the structure and content of responses
  • Handle missing data: Account for optional fields that may not be present
  • Process incrementally: For large datasets, process data in chunks
  • Store efficiently: Use appropriate data structures for your use case

Data Freshness​

  • Understand data age: Be aware of how fresh different data sources are
  • Implement refresh strategies: Update cached data based on your requirements
  • Use appropriate endpoints: Choose the right endpoint for your freshness needs

Integration Patterns​

Application Integration​

  • Use asynchronous processing: Don't block user interfaces on API calls
  • Implement proper logging: Log API interactions for debugging and monitoring
  • Monitor API health: Track API response times and error rates
  • Plan for downtime: Implement graceful degradation when APIs are unavailable

Automation & Scripting​

  • Use configuration files: Store settings in configuration files, not code
  • Implement progress indicators: Show progress for long-running operations
  • Handle interruptions: Allow scripts to be stopped and resumed gracefully
  • Document your automations: Document what your scripts do and how to use them

Security Considerations​

Data Handling​

  • Minimize data exposure: Only request and store data you actually need
  • Implement access controls: Restrict access to sensitive data appropriately
  • Use secure connections: Always use HTTPS for API communications
  • Audit data access: Log who accesses what data and when

Compliance​

  • Understand data regulations: Be aware of GDPR, CCPA, and other relevant regulations
  • Implement data retention policies: Don't store data longer than necessary
  • Document data usage: Maintain records of how you use and store data
  • Regular security reviews: Periodically review your security practices

Monitoring & Maintenance​

Performance Monitoring​

  • Track API usage: Monitor your API call patterns and quotas
  • Monitor response times: Track API performance over time
  • Set up alerts: Alert on unusual patterns or errors
  • Regular health checks: Implement automated health checks for your integrations

Maintenance Tasks​

  • Update dependencies: Keep your API client libraries updated
  • Review logs regularly: Check logs for errors and unusual patterns
  • Test regularly: Periodically test your integrations
  • Document changes: Keep documentation updated as your implementation evolves

Common Pitfalls to Avoid​

  • Don't ignore rate limits: This can lead to blocked requests and degraded performance
  • Don't hardcode URLs: Use configuration for API endpoints
  • Don't assume data structure: Always validate API response structure
  • Don't forget error handling: Every API call should have proper error handling. Refer to our API Error Codes guide for details on how to handle different responses.
  • Don't cache indefinitely: Implement appropriate cache expiration strategies

Getting Help​

If you need assistance implementing these best practices: