API Design

Idempotency

/aɪˈdempətənsi/

Definition

A property where applying the same operation multiple times produces the same result as applying it once.

Example in context

"Our DELETE endpoint is idempotent — deleting a non-existent resource returns 404 but creates no side effects."

Related terms

Practice this term

Master Idempotency in context by working through exercises in the API Design module. You'll see the term used in real engineering scenarios with multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and matching drills.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Idempotency" mean?

A property where applying the same operation multiple times produces the same result as applying it once.

How do you pronounce "Idempotency"?

"Idempotency" is pronounced /aɪˈdempətənsi/.

Can you use "Idempotency" in a sentence?

"Our DELETE endpoint is idempotent — deleting a non-existent resource returns 404 but creates no side effects."