Required root links

[m-mohr]

I wasn't aware of the requirement that self and root are required for some endpoints (e.g. /collections).

@philvarner has shown that self is required by OAFeat, which is fine. But root itself seems only required by some endpoints which seems inconsistent.

For example, /search doesn't seem to require it. Static STAC also doesn't require it. OAFeat also doesn't require it in /collections. I'm wondering whether it should be more consistent and only be recommended in all endpoints?

More an issue for discussion rather than a request for change. I'm not sure either yet, but would like to see this being somewhat consistent.

Started by @m-mohr in #331 (comment)

[philvarner]

My understanding was that root was always required. I think it is an oversight that it's not required by all conformance classes. For a HATEOAS style of web API, I think always having a link back to the root is important.

[philvarner]

related

• Features endpoint /collection/{c_id}/items does not state it must have a self, root, parent, and collection link #350

[philvarner]

Current status of this is:

• Core requires it on the landing page
• Features (and thereby Collections) requires it for all endpoint responses require root
• Item Search does not list is as a link rel, but the example has it. Planetary Computer (stac-fastapi) has it, Earth Search (stac-server) does not (but I will add it in the next release!).

I would be in favor of adding this to Item Search.