A while ago, I introduced the concept of API in the information technology industry. In addition, there are 3 different types of Web Services APIs which are REST APIs, SOAP APIs, and RPC APIs. Among them, REST APIs is no doubt the most popular API currently. REST APIs, also known as RESTful APIs, stands for Representational State Transfer. It is based on four different HTTP commands which are GET, PUT, POST, and DELETE.

When a client request is made via a RESTful API, it transfers a representation of the state of the resource to the endpoint. Then the information is delivered in one of several formats via HTTP: JSON (Javascript Object Notation), HTML, XLT, Python, PHP, or plain text. JSON is the most generally popular due to its readability.

According to the RESTful API website, a service interface needs to apply these 6 guiding principles and constraints to be referred to as RESTful:

1. Uniform Interface

Multiple architectural constraints applying to the interface so that information is transferred in a standard form requiring:

Identification resources – resources requested are identifiable and unique from the representations sent to the client

Manipulation of resources through representations – clients can manipulate the resources via the representation

Self-descriptive messages – each resource representation should carry enough information that the client can manipulate.

Hypermedia as the engine of application state – after accessing a resource, the client should be able to use hyperlinks to find all other currently available actions.

2. Client – server

It is the architecture made up of clients, servers, and resources, with requests managed through HTTP.

3. Stateless

Statelessness means that no client information is stored between each request and that the server cannot take advantage of previously stored context information.

4. Cacheable

There are cacheable and non-cacheable responses. If the response is cacheable, the client can reuse the response data for later use.

5. Layered system

A layered system allows an architecture to be composed of hierarchical layers by constraining component behavior.

6. Code on demand (optional)

It is the ability to send executable code from the server to the client when requested, extending client functionality.

Although REST API has these criteria to conform to, it is still considered easier to use than SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol). The reason is that while REST is a set of guidelines which is simple to implement and faster in response time, SOAP has specific requirements like XML messaging, and built-in security and transaction compliance that make it slower and heavier.

Overall, the point of this blog is to introduce you to REST API, REST is just a term indicating the constraints applying to the API. In order to understand the power of REST, I would suggest going to create one and see how simple and convenient it is.

From the blog CS@Worcester – Vien's Blog by Vien Hua and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Hello, week-9. I want to post a blog to quickly review the API topic to learn more about REST calls. I got confused; I researched about it. It has the Understanding And Using REST APIs.

What is a REST API

API (Application Programming Interface) – A set of rules allows programs to support any other. The developer creates the API on the server and enables the client to speak to it. 

The REST (Representational State Transfer) determines how the API. It is a set of rules that developers follow when they create their API. One of the rules states that one should get data (called a resource) when linking to a specific URL. Each URL made a request, while the data sent back to is called a response.

The Anatomy Of A Request #

It’s important to know that a request with four points:

• The endpoint
• The method
• The headers
• The data (or body)
  

The endpoint – URL that requests for (root-endpoint/?). The root-endpoint is the starting point of the API that is ordering.

The path determines the resource request. For example, it is like an automatic answering machine. That asks to press 1 for service, press 2 for another service, 3 for yet another service, and so on.

The Method

The method is the type of request sent to the server:

• GET – Request to get a resource from a server. It will perform a `GET` request; the server looks for the requested data and sends it back.
• POST – Request to create a new resource on a server. It performs a `POST` request, the server creates a new entry in the database and tells whether the creation is successful.
• PUT & PATCH – Requests to update a resource on a server. If performing a `PUT` or `PATCH` request, the server updates an entry in the database and tells whether the update is successful.
• DELETE – Request to delete a resource from a server. If performing a `DELETE` request, the server deletes an entry in the database and tells whether the deletion is successful.

These methods provide meaning for the request made. Perform steps: Create, Read, Update and Delete (CRUD).

The HEAD: it used to provide information to both the client and server. It has many purposes, such as authentication and giving information about the body content. It can find a list of valid headers on MDN’s HTTP Headers Reference.

The Data – contains information sent to the server. It only used POST, PUT, PATCH, or DELETE requests.

From the blog Andrew Lam’s little blog by Andrew Lam and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Hello, week-9. I want to post a blog to quickly review the API topic to learn more about REST calls. I got confused; I researched about it. It has the Understanding And Using REST APIs.

What is a REST API

API (Application Programming Interface) – A set of rules allows programs to support any other. The developer creates the API on the server and enables the client to speak to it. 

The REST (Representational State Transfer) determines how the API. It is a set of rules that developers follow when they create their API. One of the rules states that one should get data (called a resource) when linking to a specific URL. Each URL made a request, while the data sent back to is called a response.

The Anatomy Of A Request #

It’s important to know that a request with four points:

• The endpoint
• The method
• The headers
• The data (or body)
  

The endpoint – URL that requests for (root-endpoint/?). The root-endpoint is the starting point of the API that is ordering.

The path determines the resource request. For example, it is like an automatic answering machine. That asks to press 1 for service, press 2 for another service, 3 for yet another service, and so on.

The Method

The method is the type of request sent to the server:

• GET – Request to get a resource from a server. It will perform a `GET` request; the server looks for the requested data and sends it back.
• POST – Request to create a new resource on a server. It performs a `POST` request, the server creates a new entry in the database and tells whether the creation is successful.
• PUT & PATCH – Requests to update a resource on a server. If performing a `PUT` or `PATCH` request, the server updates an entry in the database and tells whether the update is successful.
• DELETE – Request to delete a resource from a server. If performing a `DELETE` request, the server deletes an entry in the database and tells whether the deletion is successful.

These methods provide meaning for the request made. Perform steps: Create, Read, Update and Delete (CRUD).

The HEAD: it used to provide information to both the client and server. It has many purposes, such as authentication and giving information about the body content. It can find a list of valid headers on MDN’s HTTP Headers Reference.

The Data – contains information sent to the server. It only used POST, PUT, PATCH, or DELETE requests.

From the blog Andrew Lam’s little blog by Andrew Lam and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Hello, week-9. I want to post a blog to quickly review the API topic to learn more about REST calls. I got confused; I researched about it. It has the Understanding And Using REST APIs.

What is a REST API

API (Application Programming Interface) – A set of rules allows programs to support any other. The developer creates the API on the server and enables the client to speak to it. 

The REST (Representational State Transfer) determines how the API. It is a set of rules that developers follow when they create their API. One of the rules states that one should get data (called a resource) when linking to a specific URL. Each URL made a request, while the data sent back to is called a response.

The Anatomy Of A Request #

It’s important to know that a request with four points:

• The endpoint
• The method
• The headers
• The data (or body)
  

The endpoint – URL that requests for (root-endpoint/?). The root-endpoint is the starting point of the API that is ordering.

The path determines the resource request. For example, it is like an automatic answering machine. That asks to press 1 for service, press 2 for another service, 3 for yet another service, and so on.

The Method

The method is the type of request sent to the server:

• GET – Request to get a resource from a server. It will perform a `GET` request; the server looks for the requested data and sends it back.
• POST – Request to create a new resource on a server. It performs a `POST` request, the server creates a new entry in the database and tells whether the creation is successful.
• PUT & PATCH – Requests to update a resource on a server. If performing a `PUT` or `PATCH` request, the server updates an entry in the database and tells whether the update is successful.
• DELETE – Request to delete a resource from a server. If performing a `DELETE` request, the server deletes an entry in the database and tells whether the deletion is successful.

These methods provide meaning for the request made. Perform steps: Create, Read, Update and Delete (CRUD).

The HEAD: it used to provide information to both the client and server. It has many purposes, such as authentication and giving information about the body content. It can find a list of valid headers on MDN’s HTTP Headers Reference.

The Data – contains information sent to the server. It only used POST, PUT, PATCH, or DELETE requests.

From the blog Andrew Lam’s little blog by and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Hello, week-9. I want to post a blog to quickly review the API topic to learn more about REST calls. I got confused; I researched about it. It has the Understanding And Using REST APIs.

What is a REST API

API (Application Programming Interface) – A set of rules allows programs to support any other. The developer creates the API on the server and enables the client to speak to it. 

The REST (Representational State Transfer) determines how the API. It is a set of rules that developers follow when they create their API. One of the rules states that one should get data (called a resource) when linking to a specific URL. Each URL made a request, while the data sent back to is called a response.

The Anatomy Of A Request #

It’s important to know that a request with four points:

• The endpoint
• The method
• The headers
• The data (or body)
  

The endpoint – URL that requests for (root-endpoint/?). The root-endpoint is the starting point of the API that is ordering.

The path determines the resource request. For example, it is like an automatic answering machine. That asks to press 1 for service, press 2 for another service, 3 for yet another service, and so on.

The Method

The method is the type of request sent to the server:

• GET – Request to get a resource from a server. It will perform a `GET` request; the server looks for the requested data and sends it back.
• POST – Request to create a new resource on a server. It performs a `POST` request, the server creates a new entry in the database and tells whether the creation is successful.
• PUT & PATCH – Requests to update a resource on a server. If performing a `PUT` or `PATCH` request, the server updates an entry in the database and tells whether the update is successful.
• DELETE – Request to delete a resource from a server. If performing a `DELETE` request, the server deletes an entry in the database and tells whether the deletion is successful.

These methods provide meaning for the request made. Perform steps: Create, Read, Update and Delete (CRUD).

The HEAD: it used to provide information to both the client and server. It has many purposes, such as authentication and giving information about the body content. It can find a list of valid headers on MDN’s HTTP Headers Reference.

The Data – contains information sent to the server. It only used POST, PUT, PATCH, or DELETE requests.

From the blog Andrew Lam’s little blog by Andrew Lam and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Hello, week-9. I want to post a blog to quickly review the API topic to learn more about REST calls. I got confused; I researched about it. It has the Understanding And Using REST APIs.

What is a REST API

API (Application Programming Interface) – A set of rules allows programs to support any other. The developer creates the API on the server and enables the client to speak to it. 

The REST (Representational State Transfer) determines how the API. It is a set of rules that developers follow when they create their API. One of the rules states that one should get data (called a resource) when linking to a specific URL. Each URL made a request, while the data sent back to is called a response.

The Anatomy Of A Request #

It’s important to know that a request with four points:

• The endpoint
• The method
• The headers
• The data (or body)
  

The endpoint – URL that requests for (root-endpoint/?). The root-endpoint is the starting point of the API that is ordering.

The path determines the resource request. For example, it is like an automatic answering machine. That asks to press 1 for service, press 2 for another service, 3 for yet another service, and so on.

The Method

The method is the type of request sent to the server:

• GET – Request to get a resource from a server. It will perform a `GET` request; the server looks for the requested data and sends it back.
• POST – Request to create a new resource on a server. It performs a `POST` request, the server creates a new entry in the database and tells whether the creation is successful.
• PUT & PATCH – Requests to update a resource on a server. If performing a `PUT` or `PATCH` request, the server updates an entry in the database and tells whether the update is successful.
• DELETE – Request to delete a resource from a server. If performing a `DELETE` request, the server deletes an entry in the database and tells whether the deletion is successful.

These methods provide meaning for the request made. Perform steps: Create, Read, Update and Delete (CRUD).

The HEAD: it used to provide information to both the client and server. It has many purposes, such as authentication and giving information about the body content. It can find a list of valid headers on MDN’s HTTP Headers Reference.

The Data – contains information sent to the server. It only used POST, PUT, PATCH, or DELETE requests.

From the blog Andrew Lam’s little blog by Andrew Lam and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Hello, week-9. I want to post a blog to quickly review the API topic to learn more about REST calls. I got confused; I researched about it. It has the Understanding And Using REST APIs.

What is a REST API

API (Application Programming Interface) – A set of rules allows programs to support any other. The developer creates the API on the server and enables the client to speak to it. 

The REST (Representational State Transfer) determines how the API. It is a set of rules that developers follow when they create their API. One of the rules states that one should get data (called a resource) when linking to a specific URL. Each URL made a request, while the data sent back to is called a response.

The Anatomy Of A Request #

It’s important to know that a request with four points:

• The endpoint
• The method
• The headers
• The data (or body)
  

The endpoint – URL that requests for (root-endpoint/?). The root-endpoint is the starting point of the API that is ordering.

The path determines the resource request. For example, it is like an automatic answering machine. That asks to press 1 for service, press 2 for another service, 3 for yet another service, and so on.

The Method

The method is the type of request sent to the server:

• GET – Request to get a resource from a server. It will perform a `GET` request; the server looks for the requested data and sends it back.
• POST – Request to create a new resource on a server. It performs a `POST` request, the server creates a new entry in the database and tells whether the creation is successful.
• PUT & PATCH – Requests to update a resource on a server. If performing a `PUT` or `PATCH` request, the server updates an entry in the database and tells whether the update is successful.
• DELETE – Request to delete a resource from a server. If performing a `DELETE` request, the server deletes an entry in the database and tells whether the deletion is successful.

These methods provide meaning for the request made. Perform steps: Create, Read, Update and Delete (CRUD).

The HEAD: it used to provide information to both the client and server. It has many purposes, such as authentication and giving information about the body content. It can find a list of valid headers on MDN’s HTTP Headers Reference.

The Data – contains information sent to the server. It only used POST, PUT, PATCH, or DELETE requests.

From the blog Andrew Lam’s little blog by Andrew Lam and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Hello, week-9. I want to post a blog to quickly review the API topic to learn more about REST calls. I got confused; I researched about it. It has the Understanding And Using REST APIs.

What is a REST API

API (Application Programming Interface) – A set of rules allows programs to support any other. The developer creates the API on the server and enables the client to speak to it. 

The REST (Representational State Transfer) determines how the API. It is a set of rules that developers follow when they create their API. One of the rules states that one should get data (called a resource) when linking to a specific URL. Each URL made a request, while the data sent back to is called a response.

The Anatomy Of A Request #

It’s important to know that a request with four points:

• The endpoint
• The method
• The headers
• The data (or body)
  

The endpoint – URL that requests for (root-endpoint/?). The root-endpoint is the starting point of the API that is ordering.

The path determines the resource request. For example, it is like an automatic answering machine. That asks to press 1 for service, press 2 for another service, 3 for yet another service, and so on.

The Method

The method is the type of request sent to the server:

• GET – Request to get a resource from a server. It will perform a `GET` request; the server looks for the requested data and sends it back.
• POST – Request to create a new resource on a server. It performs a `POST` request, the server creates a new entry in the database and tells whether the creation is successful.
• PUT & PATCH – Requests to update a resource on a server. If performing a `PUT` or `PATCH` request, the server updates an entry in the database and tells whether the update is successful.
• DELETE – Request to delete a resource from a server. If performing a `DELETE` request, the server deletes an entry in the database and tells whether the deletion is successful.

These methods provide meaning for the request made. Perform steps: Create, Read, Update and Delete (CRUD).

The HEAD: it used to provide information to both the client and server. It has many purposes, such as authentication and giving information about the body content. It can find a list of valid headers on MDN’s HTTP Headers Reference.

The Data – contains information sent to the server. It only used POST, PUT, PATCH, or DELETE requests.

From the blog Andrew Lam’s little blog by Andrew Lam and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Hello, week-9. I want to post a blog to quickly review the API topic to learn more about REST calls. I got confused; I researched about it. It has the Understanding And Using REST APIs.

What is a REST API

API (Application Programming Interface) – A set of rules allows programs to support any other. The developer creates the API on the server and enables the client to speak to it. 

The REST (Representational State Transfer) determines how the API. It is a set of rules that developers follow when they create their API. One of the rules states that one should get data (called a resource) when linking to a specific URL. Each URL made a request, while the data sent back to is called a response.

The Anatomy Of A Request #

It’s important to know that a request with four points:

• The endpoint
• The method
• The headers
• The data (or body)
  

The endpoint – URL that requests for (root-endpoint/?). The root-endpoint is the starting point of the API that is ordering.

The path determines the resource request. For example, it is like an automatic answering machine. That asks to press 1 for service, press 2 for another service, 3 for yet another service, and so on.

The Method

The method is the type of request sent to the server:

• GET – Request to get a resource from a server. It will perform a `GET` request; the server looks for the requested data and sends it back.
• POST – Request to create a new resource on a server. It performs a `POST` request, the server creates a new entry in the database and tells whether the creation is successful.
• PUT & PATCH – Requests to update a resource on a server. If performing a `PUT` or `PATCH` request, the server updates an entry in the database and tells whether the update is successful.
• DELETE – Request to delete a resource from a server. If performing a `DELETE` request, the server deletes an entry in the database and tells whether the deletion is successful.

These methods provide meaning for the request made. Perform steps: Create, Read, Update and Delete (CRUD).

The HEAD: it used to provide information to both the client and server. It has many purposes, such as authentication and giving information about the body content. It can find a list of valid headers on MDN’s HTTP Headers Reference.

The Data – contains information sent to the server. It only used POST, PUT, PATCH, or DELETE requests.

From the blog Andrew Lam’s little blog by Andrew Lam and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Hello, week-9. I want to post a blog to quickly review the API topic to learn more about REST calls. I got confused; I researched about it. It has the Understanding And Using REST APIs.

What is a REST API

API (Application Programming Interface) – A set of rules allows programs to support any other. The developer creates the API on the server and enables the client to speak to it. 

The REST (Representational State Transfer) determines how the API. It is a set of rules that developers follow when they create their API. One of the rules states that one should get data (called a resource) when linking to a specific URL. Each URL made a request, while the data sent back to is called a response.

The Anatomy Of A Request #

It’s important to know that a request with four points:

• The endpoint
• The method
• The headers
• The data (or body)
  

The endpoint – URL that requests for (root-endpoint/?). The root-endpoint is the starting point of the API that is ordering.

The path determines the resource request. For example, it is like an automatic answering machine. That asks to press 1 for service, press 2 for another service, 3 for yet another service, and so on.

The Method

The method is the type of request sent to the server:

• GET – Request to get a resource from a server. It will perform a `GET` request; the server looks for the requested data and sends it back.
• POST – Request to create a new resource on a server. It performs a `POST` request, the server creates a new entry in the database and tells whether the creation is successful.
• PUT & PATCH – Requests to update a resource on a server. If performing a `PUT` or `PATCH` request, the server updates an entry in the database and tells whether the update is successful.
• DELETE – Request to delete a resource from a server. If performing a `DELETE` request, the server deletes an entry in the database and tells whether the deletion is successful.

These methods provide meaning for the request made. Perform steps: Create, Read, Update and Delete (CRUD).

The HEAD: it used to provide information to both the client and server. It has many purposes, such as authentication and giving information about the body content. It can find a list of valid headers on MDN’s HTTP Headers Reference.

The Data – contains information sent to the server. It only used POST, PUT, PATCH, or DELETE requests.

From the blog Andrew Lam’s little blog by Andrew Lam and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.