What states would you design for a page that fetches data from an API?

Design loading, empty, and error states for data pages

Explains practical UI states for data fetching, empty results, partial failure, retry, and accessible recovery.

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TL;DR

I would design at least loading, loaded, empty, error, and refreshing states. The first load can show a skeleton or compact loading indicator. Empty state copy depends on whether there is truly no data or just no results for the current filters. Error states need a safe message and a retry action. If the page already has data, a background refresh can keep showing stale data with a small pending indicator.

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Loading states, skeletons, empty states, error states, retries, stale data, partial data, accessibility, and UX clarity.

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Why this question matters
A technically correct API integration can still feel unfinished if the page only works on the happy path. Interviewers often look for whether the UI handles real network and data states.
I would design at least loading, loaded, empty, error, and refreshing states. The first load can show a skeleton or compact loading indicator. Empty state copy depends on whether there is truly no data or just no results for the current filters. Error states need a safe message and a retry action. If the page already has data, a background refresh can keep showing stale data with a small pending indicator.
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I would separate full-page states from partial states. A dashboard might render some panels while one panel fails. A table might preserve the previous page while the next page loads. The API response shape can include enough metadata to explain empty results, permissions, and pagination. The UI should avoid layout jumps, disabled dead ends, and retry loops that spam the API.

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Details

Only implementing the successful loaded state.
Using the same empty message for no data and filtered no-results.
Blanking the whole page during background refresh.
Retry buttons that can trigger uncontrolled repeated requests.

What states would you design for a page that fetches data from an API?

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