# encore-api

Teaches the agent to write Encore.ts endpoints with api(...): typed request and response, path params, validation, errors.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 828 installs · ★ 30
- Author: encoredev
- License: Apache-2.0 · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/encoredev/skills/tree/HEAD/encore/api/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-23
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/encore-api

## What it does

This skill spells out how endpoints are declared in Encore.ts. The agent gets working patterns: import `api` from `encore.dev/api`, write separate interfaces for request and response, call `api({ method, path, expose }, handler)`. Four shapes are covered — request and response, response only, request only, neither.

Parameter handling is documented too. `Query<number>` reads the query string, `Header<"X-Webhook-Signature">` and `Cookie<"session">` pull from headers and cookies, and a `:id` segment maps straight onto an interface field. Validation uses intersection types from `encore.dev/validate`: `IsEmail`, `MinLen<3>`, `Min<13>`, `MatchesRegexp`. A bad request comes back as 400 with a `details` field. Errors are thrown with `APIError.notFound` or `new APIError(ErrCode.NotFound, ...)`.

One thing to watch: this covers ordinary endpoints only. For raw handlers via `api.raw()` and inbound webhooks the author points to a separate skill, `encore-webhook`. Writing a webhook? This one won't carry you.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add encoredev/skills --skill encore-api -a claude-code
```
```bash
npx skills add encoredev/skills --skill api -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/api/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/api/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add encoredev/skills --skill api -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/api/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add encoredev/skills --skill api -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/api/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install encoredev/skills api
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/api/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add encoredev/skills --skill api -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/encoredev/skills --path encore/api
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/api/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add encoredev/skills --skill api -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/encoredev/skills/tree/HEAD/encore/api/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- declare a POST endpoint with a typed request body
- map a `/users/:id` path segment onto an interface field
- constrain a field with `IsEmail` or `MinLen`
- return a 404 through `APIError.notFound`
- serve a folder of static files with `api.static`

## Example prompts
- Create a POST endpoint at /orders with typed request and response
- Add email and username length validation to CreateUserRequest
- Return 404 when the user is missing, using APIError

## Source text · SKILL.md · Apache-2.0

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 7229134cc5ec5de6.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 7229134cc5ec5de6
````text
---
name: encore-api
description: Define typed API endpoints in Encore.ts using `api(...)` from `encore.dev/api`. Covers typed request/response interfaces, path/query/header/cookie params, request validation, and `APIError`. For raw endpoints (`api.raw()`) and inbound webhooks, use `encore-webhook` instead.
when_to_use: >-
  User wants to define an endpoint, route, or REST handler in their own service — anything with a typed JSON request/response shape. Mentions of an endpoint, GET/POST/PUT/PATCH/DELETE, paths like `/orders` or `/users/:id`, request body, query parameters (`Query<>`), path parameters, headers (`Header<>`), cookies (`Cookie<>`), HTTP status codes (`HttpStatus`), request validation (`Min`, `MaxLen`, `IsEmail`, `IsURL`), `APIError.notFound` / 4xx-5xx errors, or `expose: true`. Trigger phrases: "POST endpoint at /orders", "typed endpoint", "GET /users/:id", "request validation", "return 404", "JSON response shape".
---

# Encore API Endpoints

## Instructions

When creating API endpoints with Encore.ts, follow these patterns:

### 1. Import the API module

```typescript
import { api } from "encore.dev/api";
```

### 2. Define typed request/response interfaces

Always define explicit TypeScript interfaces for request and response types:

```typescript
interface CreateUserRequest {
  email: string;
  name: string;
}

interface CreateUserResponse {
  id: string;
  email: string;
  name: string;
}
```

### 3. Create the endpoint

```typescript
export const createUser = api(
  { method: "POST", path: "/users", expose: true },
  async (req: CreateUserRequest): Promise<CreateUserResponse> => {
    // Implementation
  }
);
```

## API Options

| Option | Type | Description |
|--------|------|-------------|
| `method` | string | HTTP method: GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE |
| `path` | string | URL path, supports `:param` and `*wildcard` |
| `expose` | boolean | If true, accessible from outside (default: false) |
| `auth` | boolean | If true, requires authentication |
| `sensitive` | boolean | If true, redacts request/response payloads from traces |

## Request/Response Patterns

Encore supports four endpoint configurations:

```typescript
// Both request and response
export const createUser = api(
  { method: "POST", path: "/users", expose: true },
  async (req: CreateRequest): Promise<CreateResponse> => { ... }
);

// Response only (no request body)
export const listUsers = api(
  { method: "GET", path: "/users", expose: true },
  async (): Promise<ListResponse> => { ... }
);

// Request only (no response body)
export const deleteUser = api(
  { method: "DELETE", path: "/users/:id", expose: true },
  async (req: DeleteRequest): Promise<void> => { ... }
);

// Neither request nor response
export const ping = api(
  { method: "GET", path: "/ping", expose: true },
  async (): Promise<void> => { ... }
);
```

## Custom HTTP Status Codes
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 7229134cc5ec5de6

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 7229134cc5ec5de6 tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

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