java - Web Api parameter design style -

i try design simple web api using spring. there 1 parameter array of string, api looks

   public string test(string[] pars){} 

or there way, take 1 string parameter , split using separator ";" or ":",the api this:

     public string test(string par){          string pars = par.split(":");        } 

i want know pros , cons of each other

your first option best many reasons.

the important 1 default way html/http send multiple values same parameter, send parameter multiple times. used checkboxes , multi-select options lists in html forms.

another reason supported out of box spring webmvc:

@controller @requestmapping("/test") public class testcontroller {      @requestmapping(method = requestmethod.get)       public string test(@requestparam("pars") string[] pars){} } 

to pass array use url

http://yourhost/test?pars=par1&pars=par2&pars=par3 

obviously disadvantages of second method suggested not standard way in html/http communicates multi-value parameters, , not supported spring webmvc out of box.

the advantage of second method url bit shorter, issue when doing requests, not post requests. if keep parameter name short, not major issue.