In PHP REST APIs, how do I retry transient errors?

In PHP REST APIs, retrying transient errors can significantly improve the reliability of your application. Transient errors are temporary problems that usually resolve on their own, such as network issues or server overloads. Implementing a retry mechanism helps ensure that your requests eventually succeed without overwhelming the API with repeated calls.

Example of Retrying Transient Errors in PHP

$maxRetries = 3; // Maximum number of retries
$retryCount = 0; // Current retry attempt
$success = false; // Flag for request success

while ($retryCount < $maxRetries && !$success) {
    try {
        // Make the API request
        $response = makeApiRequest();

        // Check if response is valid
        if ($response) {
            $success = true; // Exit loop if successful
        }
    } catch (Exception $e) {
        // Log the error
        error_log("Error on attempt " . ($retryCount + 1) . ": " . $e->getMessage());

        // Increment retry count
        $retryCount++;

        // Optional: Add a delay before retrying
        sleep(2); // waits for 2 seconds before retrying
    }
}

if ($success) {
    echo "API call succeeded!";
} else {
    echo "All attempts failed. Please try again later.";
}