To Do List API
Model tasks, completion, ordering, and retries so a checkbox means the same thing on every screen.
Start with the record.
Keep what matters.
A to do list API connects an intention to a visible state: something needs doing, someone is responsible, and eventually the work is completed or deliberately dropped. The simplest implementation stores a title and a checkbox. A useful integration goes further by deciding what happens when tasks move, deadlines change, two devices disagree, or a request is retried after an interruption.
A simple field model
These illustrative fields are a starting point for your own design. They are not a live ListAPI.com API contract and should not be substituted for a provider’s documented request format.
| Illustrative field | What it should tell you |
|---|---|
task_id | Stable identity for the task, not its current position. |
status | An explicit state such as open or completed. |
due_date | A date-only value unless the source supports a time. |
version | A way to detect competing edits. |
A useful starting point
Treat a task as a durable object and a list as an organizational container. Moving “Review the proposal” from an inbox to a client project should not create a new identity. Keep task_id independent of the title, list position, or current owner. Record a list membership or parent reference separately so reorganizing work does not break links from notes and calendar entries.
Decide whether tasks can appear in multiple lists. A personal system may need only one parent list, while a team reporting view might show the same task in several collections. When multiple placements are allowed, store the task once and represent each placement explicitly. Otherwise, completing one copy can leave another copy appearing unfinished and create unnecessary confusion about the real state of the work.
Before you connect the list
Identify the source of truth and the intended audience. Start with a small read-only view so you can compare the result with the source. Record the retrieval scope and keep incomplete imports visible instead of treating a partial result as the whole collection.
Choose how to handle a renamed record, a repeated request, a removed item, and lost access. Make field ownership explicit before adding two-way edits. The full guide explores the decisions specific to this list type and links to an official reference.