How do you minimize latency in REST API calls?

Short answer: Deploy servers closer to users (geo-distributed hosting). Use CDNs for static content. Apply connection pooling for databases. Reduce number of API calls (batching, GraphQL alternative). Use HTTP/2 or gRPC for faster communication. Monitor latency with APM tools and optimize bottlenecks.

Real-world example (ShopNest)

Creating an order is POST /api/orders → 201 with Location header. Fetching is GET /api/orders/{id} → 200 or 404.

Say this in the interview

1. Define — one clear sentence (the short answer above).
2. Example — relate it to a project like ShopNest or your real work.
3. Trade-off — when you would not use it.