What does it mean for an API to be discoverable?

Short answer: (With C# ASP.NET Core Web API example) Discoverability means clients can navigate and learn available actions through metadata or hypermedia links, without hardcoding routes. 👉 Example using HATEOAS in ASP.NET Core Web API: [HttpGet("users/{id}")] public IActionResult GetUser(int id)

Example code

{
var user = new { Id = id, Name = "Alice" };
var response = new
{ user, links = new[] { new { rel = "self", href = Url.Action("GetUser", new { id }) }, new { rel = "orders", href = Url.Action("GetUserOrders", new { id }) } } }; return Ok(response);
} The API response itself guides the client to related resources (user’s orders, profile, etc.). Q&A

Real-world example (ShopNest)

ShopNest exposes REST APIs for cart and checkout. Controllers stay thin; business rules live in application services.

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.