What is a RESTful API?
A RESTful API (Representational State Transfer API) is an architectural style that defines a set of constraints for creating web services. These APIs enable communication between a client and a server over HTTP, using standard HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE. RESTful APIs are widely used in web development due to their simplicity and scalability.
The key principles of RESTful APIs include:
- Statelessness: Each API call from a client contains all the information the server needs to fulfill the request. This makes it easier to scale applications.
- Resource-based: Resources are identified using URIs (Uniform Resource Identifiers). Each resource can be accessed and manipulated using standard HTTP methods.
- Uniform Interface: A consistent interface simplifies the architecture and decouples the client and server, enabling independent evolution of both.
- Client-Server Separation: The client and server operate independently, promoting modularity and flexibility in application design.
RESTful APIs are often used in web and mobile applications to facilitate data exchange. They support various formats, including JSON and XML, making them versatile for different platforms. Overall, RESTful APIs are a fundamental aspect of modern software development, providing a robust framework for building scalable and maintainable applications.