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+# API Reference - Backend Example
+
+## Base URL
+```
+http://localhost:3000
+```
+
+## Response Format
+
+All API responses follow a standardized JSON format
+
+**Success Response:**
+```json
+{
+  "success": true,
+  "data": { /* response data */ }
+}
+```
+
+**Error Response:**
+```json
+{
+  "success": false,
+  "error": "Error description"
+}
+```
+
+## Endpoints
+
+### Health Check
+
+**GET** `/`
+
+Check if the API is running and view available endpoints.
+
+**Response:**
+```json
+{
+  "success": true,
+  "data": {
+    "message": "Backend Example API is running!",
+    "endpoints": [...]
+  }
+}
+```
+
+---
+
+### Messages
+
+#### Create Message
+
+**POST** `/api/messages`
+
+Create a new message.
+
+**Request Body:**
+```json
+{
+  "author": "string (required, max 100 chars)",
+  "text": "string (required, max 1000 chars)", 
+  "isRead": "boolean (optional, default: false)"
+}
+```
+
+**Response:**
+```json
+{
+  "success": true,
+  "data": {
+    "_id": "message_id",
+    "author": "John Doe",
+    "text": "Hello World",
+    "isRead": false,
+    "timestamp": "2025-09-25T10:30:00.000Z",
+    "createdAt": "2025-09-25T10:30:00.000Z",
+    "updatedAt": "2025-09-25T10:30:00.000Z"
+  }
+}
+```
+
+#### Get All Messages
+
+**GET** `/api/messages`
+
+Retrieve all messages from the database.
+
+**Response:**
+```json
+{
+  "success": true,
+  "data": [
+    {
+      "_id": "message_id",
+      "author": "John Doe",
+      "text": "Hello World",
+      "isRead": false,
+      "timestamp": "2025-09-25T10:30:00.000Z",
+      "createdAt": "2025-09-25T10:30:00.000Z", 
+      "updatedAt": "2025-09-25T10:30:00.000Z"
+    }
+  ]
+}
+```
+
+#### Get Message by ID
+
+**GET** `/api/messages/:id`
+
+Retrieve a specific message by its ID.
+
+**Parameters:**
+- `id` (string) - Message ID
+
+**Response:**
+```json
+{
+  "success": true,
+  "data": {
+    "_id": "message_id",
+    "author": "John Doe", 
+    "text": "Hello World",
+    "isRead": false,
+    "timestamp": "2025-09-25T10:30:00.000Z",
+    "createdAt": "2025-09-25T10:30:00.000Z",
+    "updatedAt": "2025-09-25T10:30:00.000Z"
+  }
+}
+```
+
+#### Update Message
+
+**PUT** `/api/messages/:id`
+
+Update an existing message by its ID.
+
+**Parameters:**
+- `id` (string) - Message ID
+
+**Request Body:**
+```json
+{
+  "author": "string (optional, max 100 chars)",
+  "text": "string (optional, max 1000 chars)",
+  "isRead": "boolean (optional)"
+}
+```
+
+**Response:**
+```json
+{
+  "success": true,
+  "data": {
+    "_id": "message_id",
+    "author": "Updated Author",
+    "text": "Updated message text", 
+    "isRead": true,
+    "timestamp": "2025-09-25T10:30:00.000Z",
+    "createdAt": "2025-09-25T10:30:00.000Z",
+    "updatedAt": "2025-09-25T10:35:00.000Z"
+  }
+}
+```
+
+#### Delete Message
+
+**DELETE** `/api/messages/:id`
+
+Delete a message by its ID.
+
+**Parameters:**
+- `id` (string) - Message ID
+
+**Response:**
+```json
+{
+  "success": true,
+  "data": {
+    "message": "Message deleted successfully",
+    "deletedId": "message_id"
+  }
+}
+```
+
+## Error Codes
+
+| Status Code | Description |
+|-------------|-------------|
+| 200 | Success |
+| 201 | Created |
+| 400 | Bad Request (validation error) |
+| 404 | Not Found |
+| 500 | Internal Server Error |
+
+## Example Requests
+
+### Using cURL
+
+**Create a message:**
+```bash
+curl -X POST http://localhost:3000/api/messages \
+  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+  -d '{
+    "author": "John Doe",
+    "text": "Hello, this is a test message!",
+    "isRead": false
+  }'
+```
+
+**Get all messages:**
+```bash
+curl http://localhost:3000/api/messages
+```
+
+**Get message by ID:**
+```bash
+curl http://localhost:3000/api/messages/MESSAGE_ID_HERE
+```
+
+**Update a message:**
+```bash
+curl -X PUT http://localhost:3000/api/messages/MESSAGE_ID_HERE \
+  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+  -d '{
+    "text": "Updated message text",
+    "isRead": true
+  }'
+```
+
+**Delete a message:**
+```bash
+curl -X DELETE http://localhost:3000/api/messages/MESSAGE_ID_HERE
+```
+
+## Message Schema
+
+| Field | Type | Required | Description |
+|-------|------|----------|-------------|
+| `author` | String | Yes | Author name (max 100 characters) |
+| `text` | String | Yes | Message content (max 1000 characters) |
+| `isRead` | Boolean | No | Read status (default: false) |
+| `timestamp` | Date | Auto | Message creation time |
+| `createdAt` | Date | Auto | Document creation time |
+| `updatedAt` | Date | Auto | Document last update time |
+| `_id` | ObjectId | Auto | Unique message identifier |
+
+
+
diff --git a/postman_tests.md b/postman_tests.md
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+Exported postman tests:
+https://emmarrowe05-4705714.postman.co/workspace/Emma-Rowe's-Workspace~786c4019-af82-4342-884e-5cdeceefc44b/example/48793688-83da13bd-148e-4b44-ae5d-603da63d7928?action=share&creator=48793688
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