REST API
Definition
An architectural style for web services that uses standard HTTP methods to create, read, update, and delete resources, providing a stateless communication interface.
REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style for designing networked applications. RESTful APIs use HTTP methods to perform CRUD operations on resources identified by URLs. GET retrieves data, POST creates data, PUT updates data, and DELETE removes data.
REST principles include statelessness (each request contains all information needed to process it), a uniform interface (consistent URL patterns and HTTP methods), client-server separation, and cacheability. Resources are typically represented in JSON format.
REST API best practices include using nouns for resource URLs (/users, /posts), HTTP status codes for responses, pagination for large result sets, versioning for backward compatibility, and proper error handling with descriptive messages. Authentication is commonly handled through API keys, OAuth tokens, or JWTs.
Related Calculators
Related Terms
API (Application Programming Interface)
techA set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate with each other and share data or functionality.
HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol)
techThe foundational protocol for data communication on the web, defining how messages are formatted and transmitted between clients and servers.
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation)
techA lightweight data interchange format that is easy for humans to read and write and easy for machines to parse and generate.
JWT (JSON Web Token)
techA compact, URL-safe token format used for securely transmitting information between parties as a JSON object, commonly used for authentication.
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