How does REST handle state?
REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style that defines a set of constraints for developing web services. One of the key aspects of REST is its treatment of state management, which is primarily client-oriented.
Statelessness
RESTful APIs are designed to be stateless, meaning that each request from the client contains all the information the server needs to fulfill that request. This eliminates the need for the server to remember previous interactions, thus improving scalability and reliability.
Resource Representation
In REST, each resource (identifier, data, etc.) is represented by a unique URL. Clients manipulate these resources via standard HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE. The state of a resource is conveyed through its representation, often formatted in JSON or XML.
Client Responsibility
The client is responsible for preserving state information. For example, it may store session data or handle authentication tokens to validate subsequent requests. This architecture allows RESTful APIs to function smoothly across distributed systems, enhancing the user experience without burdening the server.
Hypermedia as the Engine of Application State (HATEOAS)
A key principle in REST is HATEOAS, which allows clients to interact with the application entirely through hypermedia provided dynamically by the server. This enables clients to discover available actions and resources without prior knowledge, supporting a more dynamic state management approach.