BE_12 - Answers Fetch API Integration

[notjackl3]

Summary

Implement service layer to fetch answers for a specific question with proper sorting and author visibility.
[Estimated hours: 3-4]

Objectives

• Create answer fetching service
• Include accepted answer indicator
• Implement pagination for questions with many answers
• Return author info (respecting anonymity settings)
• Sort answers by accepted status, votes, then time

Description

Complements BE_11 by providing the logic to fetch answers for a specific question. Used when a user expands a question to view all answers or when hydrating state on page load.

Fetch Flow

User clicks on question to expand
     → GET /api/questions/:id/answers
     → Controller calls AnswerService.getAnswers()
     → Service validates user can view parent question
     → Returns answers sorted by relevance
     → Frontend displays answer thread

Technical Details

File Structure

src/services/
└── answerService.ts
    Functions:
    - getQuestionAnswers(questionId, userId, options)
    - getAnswerById(answerId, userId)
    - sortAnswers(answers)

Response Shape

{
  answers: Answer[],
  nextCursor: string | null,
  acceptedAnswerId: string | null
}

Acceptance Criteria

• User can fetch answers for questions they can view
• Cannot fetch answers for questions user cannot view (403)
• Accepted answer is flagged in response with isAccepted: true
• Answers sorted: accepted first, then by votes (desc), then by createdAt (asc)
• Anonymous answer authors hidden from students
• TAs and professors can see anonymous answer authors
• Pagination works correctly for 50+ answers
• Deleted answers not returned
• Each answer includes authorRole field (STUDENT, TA, PROFESSOR)