What is a RESTful API?
A RESTful API (Representational State Transfer) is a way for applications to communicate with each other over HTTP. It follows a set of rules for creating and interacting with resources, making it easy to build scalable, maintainable, and flexible systems.
Core Principles of REST:
Stateless: Every request from the client contains all the information needed to understand and process the request. No session information is stored on the server.
Client-Server Architecture: The client and server are separate, allowing them to evolve independently. The client sends requests, and the server sends back responses.
Uniform Interface: All interactions are standardized, using HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, DELETE to interact with resources.
Resource-Based: Each piece of data (like users, products, etc.) is treated as a resource and can be accessed by a unique URL.
Example of a RESTful Request:
Here’s how a simple REST API request to fetch user data might look:
GET https://api.example.com/users/123
This would fetch the data of the user with ID 123. The server responds with the user’s details in a structured format, typically JSON.
Why RESTful APIs Matter:
RESTful APIs are widely used because they provide clear, scalable communication between different systems. Whether you’re building a web app, mobile app, or connecting to third-party services, RESTful APIs are a go-to solution for transferring data effectively.
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