# Ktor Patterns

> Ktor client patterns for Android networking with content negotiation, error handling, and interceptors. Use when this capability is needed.

- Skill: `tomevault-io/ktor-patterns` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/ktor-patterns`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/ktor-patterns/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/ktor-patterns

---


# Ktor Client Patterns

Modern HTTP client for Kotlin.

## Client Setup

```kotlin
val httpClient = HttpClient(OkHttp) {
    // JSON serialization
    install(ContentNegotiation) {
        json(Json {
            ignoreUnknownKeys = true
            isLenient = true
            prettyPrint = false
        })
    }
    
    // Timeouts
    install(HttpTimeout) {
        requestTimeoutMillis = 30_000
        connectTimeoutMillis = 10_000
        socketTimeoutMillis = 30_000
    }
    
    // Logging (debug only)
    install(Logging) {
        logger = Logger.ANDROID
        level = if (BuildConfig.DEBUG) LogLevel.BODY else LogLevel.NONE
    }
    
    // Default request config
    defaultRequest {
        url("https://api.example.com")
        contentType(ContentType.Application.Json)
    }
    
    // Auth
    install(Auth) {
        bearer {
            loadTokens {
                BearerTokens(tokenStorage.accessToken, tokenStorage.refreshToken)
            }
            refreshTokens {
                val response = client.post("auth/refresh") {
                    setBody(RefreshRequest(tokenStorage.refreshToken))
                }
                tokenStorage.save(response.body())
                BearerTokens(response.body<TokenResponse>().accessToken, response.body<TokenResponse>().refreshToken)
            }
        }
    }
}
```

## API Definition

```kotlin
class UserApi(private val client: HttpClient) {
    
    suspend fun getUsers(): List<UserDto> {
        return client.get("users").body()
    }
    
    suspend fun getUser(id: String): UserDto {
        return client.get("users/$id").body()
    }
    
    suspend fun createUser(request: CreateUserRequest): UserDto {
        return client.post("users") {
            setBody(request)
        }.body()
    }
    
    suspend fun updateUser(id: String, request: UpdateUserRequest): UserDto {
        return client.put("users/$id") {
            setBody(request)
        }.body()
    }
    
    suspend fun deleteUser(id: String) {
        client.delete("users/$id")
    }
}
```

## Error Handling

```kotlin
class ApiException(
    val statusCode: Int,
    override val message: String
) : Exception(message)

suspend inline fun <reified T> HttpClient.safeRequest(
    block: HttpRequestBuilder.() -> Unit
): Result<T> = runCatching {
    val response = request(block)
    
    if (response.status.isSuccess()) {
        response.body<T>()
    } else {
        throw ApiException(
            statusCode = response.status.value,
            message = response.bodyAsText()
        )
    }
}

// Usage
class UserRepository(private val api: UserApi, private val client: HttpClient) {
    suspend fun getUser(id: String): Result<User> {
        return client.safeRequest<UserDto> {
            url("users/$id")
            method = HttpMethod.Get
        }.map { it.toDomain() }
    }
}
```

## DTOs and Mapping

```kotlin
@Serializable
data class UserDto(
    val id: String,
    val email: String,
    @SerialName("first_name")
    val firstName: String,
    @SerialName("created_at")
    val createdAt: String
)

fun UserDto.toDomain(): User = User(
    id = id,
    email = email,
    name = firstName,
    createdAt = Instant.parse(createdAt)
)
```

## Interceptors

```kotlin
val client = HttpClient(OkHttp) {
    // Request interceptor
    install(HttpSend) {
        intercept { request ->
            request.headers.append("X-Client-Version", BuildConfig.VERSION_NAME)
            execute(request)
        }
    }
}
```

## Certificate Pinning

```kotlin
val client = HttpClient(OkHttp) {
    engine {
        config {
            certificatePinner(
                CertificatePinner.Builder()
                    .add("api.example.com", "sha256/AAAA...")
                    .add("api.example.com", "sha256/BBBB...")  // Backup pin
                    .build()
            )
        }
    }
}
```

---

**Remember**: Ktor is coroutine-first. Embrace suspend functions, handle errors properly.

---
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<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-04-11 -->