What is RESTful API?
A RESTful API (Representational State Transfer API) is an architectural style for designing networked applications. It relies on stateless, client-server communication, typically over HTTP. RESTful APIs allow different software systems to communicate by using standard HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, and PATCH to perform operations on resources.
Key Principles of RESTful API:
- Statelessness: Each request from the client contains all the information needed to process that request. The server does not store any context about the client between requests.
- Resource-Based: REST treats everything as a resource, identified by URIs. Clients interact with these resources using standard HTTP methods.
- Uniform Interface: RESTful APIs should have a consistent interface, making it easier for clients to understand how to interact with the API.
- JSON or XML: Data exchanged with RESTful APIs is often in JSON or XML format, allowing for easy manipulation and integration.
Benefits of Using RESTful APIs:
- Simplicity: The use of standard HTTP methods makes it easy to use and understand.
- Scalability: Statelessness allows better scalability, as servers can handle more requests.
- Flexibility: Clients and servers can evolve independently as long as the API remains consistent.
In summary, RESTful APIs enable seamless communication between diverse software applications, promoting interoperability and flexible system design.