> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://adidas.gitbook.io/api-guidelines/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://adidas.gitbook.io/api-guidelines/rest-api-guidelines/clients/loose-coupling.md).

# Loose Coupling

In addition to the [robustness principle](/api-guidelines/general-guidelines/robustness.md), API consumers (clients) **MUST** **operate independently** on API implementation's internals. Similarly the API consumers **MUST NOT** **assume** or **rely on** any knowledge of the API service internal implementation.

Where available, the clients **SHOULD** utilize **hypermedia controls as the engine of the application state**, and rely on the **protocol, message and vocabulary semantics**.