REST API
If you are a computer guy, you must have heard the term “REST API”.
No worries I explain but before jumping into the topic let me tell you about API. APIs are mechanisms that enable two software components to communicate with each other using a set of definitions and protocols. API stands for Application Programming Interface. In the context of APIs, the word Application refers to any software with a distinct function. Interface can be thought of as a contract of service between two applications. API architecture is usually explained in terms of client and server. The application sending the request is called the client, and the application sending the response is called the server.
What is REST API?
The term REST stands for REpresentational State Transfer. It is an architectural design that establishes a set of guidelines for creating Web Services. REST advises creating an object out of the data the client requests and sending the object’s values back to the user via a client-server communication. You can create an object on the server side, for instance, if the user requests a movie in Bangalore at a specific time and location.
So, over here, you have an object and you are sending the state of an object. This is why REST is known as Representational State Transfer.
Why use REST API?
Once you understand how an API works, the advantages of utilising it, and how to implement one, it may be enjoyable. You will undoubtedly work with REST APIs for web services over your development career.
Though why REST? If you have already worked on the project, why did you decide to use REST APIs? If you intend to use it for your future project, why do you think you should? Why not use SOAP, XML-RPC, or other web services APIs instead.
because it’s so well-liked? since the majority of programmers use it?
If the sentence above is your response, then we will undoubtedly ask another question here. Why is REST so well-liked?
We will explore the advantages of REST APIs in this blog, as we have already mentioned, programmers prefer them when developing an API in a project. Let’s talk about what REST can bring to the table, shall we?
1. Easy to Learn and Implement
Talking about the architecture, REST is based on the client-server architecture where the client is completely separated from the server. This coolest feature allows the developer’s team to work on both ends independently, You do not have to worry about what has been coded on the client-side or how the server is put together. This feature gives the opportunity to work on several projects related to development.
2. Scalability
One of the best characteristics that sets REST apart from other technologies is this. The REST architecture’s separation of client and server enables developers to develop apps more easily. Let’s examine the remaining two factors that, if your app employs REST API, contribute to its scalability.
Stateless: This is one of the unique features of REST. It is stateless on the server-side which means the server doesn’t store any of the previous requests or responses. Each request will be processed and served independently, and it won’t have to do anything with the previous one.
Faster Data Interchange Format: This is another great advantage of using REST. In REST APIs JSON format is used to interchange the data. In comparison to XML, JSON is smaller in size and is much more compact. Also, it can be parsed faster than XML.
REST APIs can also be used in different formats by making use of the Accept header.
3. Cacheable
We all desire to increase the performance of the web application. For the user to have a faster response, caching is essential. You don’t need to request the data from the server more than once if you are making the same request again. Data can be easily cached, and the cache memory provides a speedy response.
4. Flexibility and Portability
The database’s data can easily be updated at any time through REST. It allows you flexibility in responding to several clients that request various data kinds (XML, JSON, and so on). All you have to do is use the Accept header to ask for the data types. Depending on the requested data types, REST will produce a response.
Additionally, moving data from one server to another is simple. You can also host the back end and front end on various servers.
REST makes things simpler for developers by reducing the complexity of the application. With just a few procedures, you can control the resources with ease. Hope it was of some use.
Happy Learning!!
