Representational State Transfer (REST) is an architectural style for designing networked applications. In this guide, we'll explore what REST APIs are, how they work, and how you can use them in your projects.
What is a REST API?
A REST API determines how your interaction with the server will look like. It relies on a stateless, client-server, cacheable communications protocol -- and in virtually all cases, the HTTP protocol is used. REST is a set of rules that developers follow when they create their API. One of these rules states that you should be able to get a piece of data (called a resource) when you link to a specific URL.
HTTP Methods
The four most common HTTP methods used in REST APIs are:
- GET: Retrieve a specific resource (by ID) or a collection of resources.
- POST: Create a new resource.
- PUT: Update a specific resource (by ID).
- DELETE: Remove a specific resource by ID.
Endpoints
An endpoint is the touchpoint of communication between an API and a server. An endpoint is a specific URL where an API can access the resources they need from a server to perform their function.
// Example GET request to fetch all users
GET https://api.example.com/users
// Example GET request to fetch user with ID 1
GET https://api.example.com/users/1
Conclusion
Understanding REST APIs is crucial for modern web development. They connect the frontend to the backend and allow different software systems to communicate with each other. Start practicing with our free APIs today!