REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architecture frequently used in modern web applications. REST standardizes access to web service resources by using HTTP protocol. This makes it easier to access resources across different programming languages or platforms.
A RESTful API is an API designed following REST principles. A RESTful API is a web service provided over the HTTP protocol and enables the representation of resources and their states. As a result, only a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is used to access the web service.
RESTful APIs use HTTP methods to perform CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations. These methods are:
- GET: Used to read or retrieve existing data.
- POST: Used to create new data or perform an action (e.g., forgot password, reset password, login, etc.).
- PUT: Used to update existing data.
- DELETE: Used to delete existing data.
Additionally, RESTful APIs must adhere to certain principles:
- Client-Server: The client and server are independent. The client has no knowledge of the server beyond the resources it requests from it.
- Stateless: Each request is completely independent. The client connects to the server, completes the operation, and disconnects. The server processes each request separately and does not retain any state information afterward.
- Cacheable: The server should allow responses to be cached. This enables the client to receive quicker responses when accessing a previously retrieved resource.
- Uniform Interface: The API should provide a standard interface for accessing resources. This includes identifying resources, using HTTP methods to interact with them, and representing the state of resources.
- Layered System: The server should have a layered architecture, allowing operations to pass through different layers when being processed.
RESTful APIs are widely used due to several advantages, including standardization, platform independence, performance, security, and scalability.
In conclusion, RESTful API is a significant technology in modern web applications. By following REST principles, developers can create web services that are easy to access and can communicate across various programming languages and platforms.
You can access sample RESTful APIs written in Node.js via the https://github.com/ismetkizgin/nodejs-restful-example-projects github link below.
