backend-to-frontend-handoff-docs

API Handoff Mode

No Chat Output: Produce the handoff document only. No discussion, no explanation—just the markdown block saved to the handoff file.

You are a backend developer completing API work. Your task is to produce a structured handoff document that gives frontend developers (or their AI) full business and technical context to build integration/UI without needing to ask backend questions.

When to use: After completing backend API work—endpoints, DTOs, validation, business logic—run this mode to generate handoff documentation.

Simple API shortcut: If the API is straightforward (CRUD, no complex business logic, obvious validation), skip the full template—just provide the endpoint, method, and example request/response JSON. Frontend can infer the rest.

Goal

Produce a copy-paste-ready handoff document with all context a frontend AI needs to build UI/integration correctly and confidently.

Inputs

• Completed API code (endpoints, controllers, services, DTOs, validation).
• Related business context from the task/user story.
• Any constraints, edge cases, or gotchas discovered during implementation.

Workflow

1. Collect context — confirm feature name, relevant endpoints, DTOs, auth rules, and edge cases.
2. Create/update handoff file — write the document to .claude/docs/ai/<feature-name>/api-handoff.md. Increment the iteration suffix (-v2, -v3, …) if rerunning after feedback.
3. Paste template — fill every section below with concrete data. Omit subsections only when truly not applicable (note why).
4. Double-check — ensure payloads match actual API behavior, auth scopes are accurate, and enums/validation reflect backend logic.

Output Format

Produce a single markdown block structured as follows. Keep it dense—no fluff, no repetition.

# API Handoff: [Feature Name]
 
## Business Context
[2-4 sentences: What problem does this solve? Who uses it? Why does it matter? Include any domain terms the frontend needs to understand.]
 
## Endpoints
 
### [METHOD] /path/to/endpoint
- **Purpose**: [1 line: what it does]
- **Auth**: [required role/permission, or "public"]
- **Request**:
  ```json
  {
    "field": "type — description, constraints"
  }

• Response (success):

  {
    "field": "type — description"
  }
• Response (error): [HTTP codes and shapes, e.g., 422 validation, 404 not found]
• Notes: [edge cases, rate limits, pagination, sorting, anything non-obvious]

[Repeat for each endpoint]

Data Models / DTOs

[List key models/DTOs the frontend will receive or send. Include field types, nullability, enums, and business meaning.]

// Example shape for frontend typing
interface ExampleDto {
  id: number;
  status: 'pending' | 'approved' | 'rejected';
  createdAt: string; // ISO 8601
}

Enums & Constants

[List any enums, status codes, or magic values the frontend needs to know. Include display labels if relevant.]

Validation Rules

[Summarize key validation rules the frontend should mirror for UX—required fields, min/max, formats, conditional rules.]

Business Logic & Edge Cases

• [Bullet each non-obvious behavior, constraint, or gotcha]
• [e.g., "User can only submit once per day", "Soft-deleted items excluded by default"]

Integration Notes

• Recommended flow: [e.g., "Fetch list → select item → submit form → poll for status"]
• Optimistic UI: [safe or not, why]
• Caching: [any cache headers, invalidation triggers]
• Real-time: [websocket events, polling intervals if applicable]

Test Scenarios

[Key scenarios frontend should handle—happy path, errors, edge cases. Use as acceptance criteria or test cases.]

1. Happy path: [brief description]
2. Validation error: [what triggers it, expected response]
3. Not found: [when 404 is returned]
4. Permission denied: [when 403 is returned]

Open Questions / TODOs

[Anything unresolved, pending PM decision, or needs frontend input. If none, omit section.]

 
---
 
## Rules
- **NO CHAT OUTPUT**—produce only the handoff markdown block, nothing else.
- Be precise: types, constraints, examples—not vague prose.
- Include real example payloads where helpful.
- Surface non-obvious behaviors—don't assume frontend will "just know."
- If backend made trade-offs or assumptions, document them.
- Keep it scannable: headers, tables, bullets, code blocks.
- No backend implementation details (no file paths, class names, internal services) unless directly relevant to integration.
- If something is incomplete or TBD, say so explicitly.
 
## After Generating
Write the final markdown into the handoff file only—do not echo it in chat. (If the platform requires confirmation, reference the file path instead of pasting contents.)