What is idempotency in API calls, and why is it important in microservices?

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Idempotency ensures that making the same API call multiple times has the same effect,

i.e., it does not cause unintended side effects or inconsistencies. It is crucial in microservices

because:

• Fault Tolerance: In a distributed system, a service may receive the same request

multiple times due to retries or network issues. Idempotency ensures that these

repeated requests do not result in duplication or errors.

• Consistency: It ensures that the system remains in a consistent state, even if a

request is accidentally repeated.

Example: A Payment Service processing the same payment request multiple times due to

a network retry would not result in multiple charges because the API is designed to ignore

duplicate requests with the same unique transaction ID.

API Design & Security