Pagination Patterns: Offset vs. Cursor for Scalable APIs

As datasets grow, returning everything becomes impossible. Pagination is how you slice data into fast, navigable chunks.

Offset pagination

Skip and limit are simple to implement and jump to any page. The catch: they are inefficient and unstable as rows shift between requests.

Cursor pagination

Pass an opaque cursor — an encoded position — to fetch the next page. It stays fast and stable even while new records arrive.

Choosing wisely

Offset suits small, admin-style data. Cursor scales for feeds and large collections where consumers page forward through lots of rows.

Wrapping up

Match the pattern to the data size and usage. The right pagination keeps every page request cheap.