Forget building your own online fortress from scratch! Ecommerce websites rely on APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to connect with various services like payment processing and shipping. These APIs allow different systems to share data seamlessly, making it easier to manage an online store without building everything from scratch.
REST APIs are a common type specifically used for integrating software into an existing product. In this blog, we'll learn what is Rest API, how does it work, types, principles, and more.
KnowledgeHut's Programming Certification will define REST API and explain why they're helpful.
What is Rest API?
The answer to what is API is that it is an architectural design that outlines guidelines for developing Web Services. In a client-server connection, REST recommends creating an object of the data requested by the client and sending the object's values back to the user.
For example, if a user requests a movie in Bangalore at a specific time and location, you may construct an object on the server side. So, you have an item transmitting its status over here. REST's architectural style aids in utilizing reduced bandwidth to make an application more acceptable for the internet. It is sometimes referred to as the "internet language" and depends entirely on resources. Now that you know what REST API stands for, let us proceed to comprehend the significance of REST API.
How Does Rest API work?
REST APIs employ HTTP requests to communicate with databases to do routine tasks like creating, reading, updating, and deleting entries (also known as CRUD) within a resource. For example, a REST API may use a GET request to get a record, a POST request to create one, a PUT request to update one, and a Destroy request to remove one. One can make API queries using any HTTP method. A well-designed REST API is similar to a website that runs in a web browser and supports HTTP.
Its resource represents the resource at any particular moment or date. This data may be sent to a client in almost any format, including HTML, XLT, Python, PHP, JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), or plain text. JSON is popular because it is understandable by both people and machines and is independent of programming languages. KnowledgeHut Python Programming course will help you elaborately understand what REST API is.
Principles of Rest APIrestfulapi.net1. Client-Server decoupling
In a REST API design, client and server programs must be independent. The client software should only know the URI of the requested resource; it should have no additional interaction with the server application.
2. Uniform Interface
All API queries for the same resource should look the same regardless of where they come from. The REST API should ensure that similar data, such as a user's name or email address, is assigned to just one uniform resource identifier (URI).
3. Statelessness
REST APIs are stateless, meaning each request must contain all the information needed to process it.
4. Layered System architecture
REST API requests and responses are routed through many tiers. REST APIs must be designed so neither the client nor the server can tell whether they communicate with the final application or an intermediary.
5. Cacheable
Wherever feasible, resources should be cacheable on the client or server side. Server responses must additionally indicate if caching is authorized for the offered assistance. The objective is to boost client-side speed while enhancing server-side scalability.
6. Code on Demand
REST APIs typically provide static resources, but in rare cases, responses may include executable code (such as Java applets). In these cases, perform the code when necessary.
Features of Rest API
We have understood what is Rest API, and how it works. Now, we will see the features of Rest API.
- Scalability: Development teams may quickly scale the solution due to the separation of client and server.
- Flexibility & Portability: Data from one of the queries must be accurate for REST-style APIs; thus, it is conceivable to transition from one server to another. It is also possible to alter the database at any moment.
- Independence: Through the isolation of the client and server, the protocol allows for autonomous development across a project. REST APIs are also adaptive to the working syntax and platform, enabling you to test many environments simultaneously while building.
Six Rules of REST APIs
The "Six Rules of REST APIs" are basic ideas that help make and use Representational State Transfer (REST). This is a design idea for how systems should work together. Following the rules I have mentioned below makes RESTful APIs easy to grow, manage, and work well with others.
1. Client-server Separation:
This rule focuses on keeping the worries of client and server apart. In a RESTful design, the user's screen and experience are managed by the client. The server takes care of storing data and doing business stuff for it to work properly. This divide helps make things bigger and easier, letting the client and server parts change on their own without affecting each other.
2. Uniform Interface:
The principle of a uniform interface is very important. It helps to make REST APIs simple and consistent. It means using normal rules, such as URIs (Uniform Resource Identifiers), to find resources and HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, or DELETE for actions on these things. A simple connection makes the design easier and encourages the same way of talking between customers and computers.
3. Statelessness:
RESTful APIs don't keep information from one request to the next. When a client talks to a server, each message has all it needs for that particular task. This lack of state helps to make systems bigger because servers don't need to keep client information between requests. Every request stands alone, making it more reliable and easier to understand the whole system.
4. Layered System:
The built-up system design lets us put related parts into layered layers. Each part has a certain job, and things happen between the parts. This design is flexible and can grow because parts inside a layer can be changed or taken out without messing up the whole thing.
5. Cacheability:
When someone wants to get data from a computer, their request goes through saved info before reaching the main server. Already saved data can be found in the cache without making the server work harder. Programmers should mark the data moving from the server to the user as saveable or not to save. Stored data can be used from the client cache any time it's needed. This makes getting this info quicker, and there is no load on the server if you want to get that same information again later.
Methods of Rest API
AssertibleREST determines the structure of an API. Therefore, developers must follow a set of guidelines when building an API. One piece of regulation, for example, requires that pointing to a URL contains specific information. Every URL is known as a Request, and the data returned is known as a Response.
The REST API breaks down a transaction into its constituent parts. Each component is responsible for a particular side of marketing. It is a flexible development technique due to its modularity. REST API uses HTTP methods defined in the RFC 2616 standard. It employs the HTTP requests listed below:
1. GET
The most popular HTTP method, GET, returns a representative view of the information and data contained in a resource. For data security and resource idempotence, the Use of GET should only be in read-only mode. If another client hasn't changed this technique in the interim, you should always obtain the same results regardless of how many times you use it.
2. POST
POST is the sole HTTP method for RESTful APIs that focuses on resource collections. Applying POST to the parent resource causes it to build a new resource, add it to the correct hierarchy, and return a specific URL for future use for establishing a subordinate resource in a collection. However, remember that POST is not idempotent; you cannot repeatedly employ this technique and anticipate a consistent result.
3. PUT
The PUT command modifies a resource by completely replacing its content, making it the single-resource counterpart of POST. As a result, PUT is the most popular technique for updating resource data in a RESTful API.
4. PATCH
Another HTTP method for updating resources is PATCH. PATCH alters resource contents instead of replacing resources, like the PUT method. These updates should often be conveyed using a common format, such as JSON or XML.
5. DELETE
DELETE is the final HTTP method to look at. Targeting a single resource with a DELETE method results in the complete deletion of that resource.
Implementations of DELETE are frequently a little inconsistent: If you remove the URL for the resource, it can still be accessible. In this case, it's probable that the server or resource implementation will still alter the status of the deleted resource using the URL and will probably respond differently to subsequent DELETE requests.
Rest API Examples
Now that you are clear about REST API's meaning, let us know what REST API examples are.
- Twitter: Twitter API permits third-party applications to access and write data from Twitter. Write and post tweets, share tweets, and read profiles using it. This API is handy for obtaining and analyzing massive quantities of tweets regarding certain subjects.
- Instagram: The Instagram Basic Display API provides access to user profiles, images, and videos. You may use this API and others to create applications that pull user data and integrate it into your product. Instagram also provides a Graph API for professional Instagram accounts to manage online activity.
- Spotify: Spotify's web API lets customers obtain information about artists, songs, albums, and playlists on the Spotify platform. You may also use it to create playlists, stop and play music, shuffle tracks, and do various other things.
- HubSpot: All of HubSpot's APIs follow REST principles and are built for comprehensive integrations to help organizations get the most out of HubSpot's products. You can extend HubSpot's sophisticated marketing software with additional features and link your HubSpot account with other valuable applications.
Why use REST APIs?
RESTful APIs form a great tool for creating web services. These APIs are used as:
1. Private APIs for access to data within an organization
REST APIs are also used for inside communication between software programs in an organization. Imagine a company that provides website-building services to its clients. It will include HR, finance, sales, and support teams. Also, there'll be departments for marketing plus production with QA staff. All of these departments will use special computer programs made just for them.
Also, they'll need some shared software to handle things like paying staff and taking time off work. There needs to be a main place where all this data is stored so that people in charge can see the big picture clearly. The main data store will be able to communicate with all these programs using REST APIs.
2. Works wonders with web browsers
In RESTful APIs, you can send an HTTP request and get JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) data back. Then, you use this information on your client apps by breaking it down. It is the best choice for use on websites. You can easily join these APIs with your current website without any issues.
3. Uses less bandwidth
Due to JSON, RESTful APIs use less space on the internet than other types of APIs. But, this is only true for web APIs that use JSON. An XML-based internet API will have about the same stuff inside it as it's not a RESTful counterpart, whether it follows REST design rules or not.
4. Easy for most developers
RESTful APIs use HTTP methods to talk. You can use languages like Python, JavaScript (Node.js), Ruby, and C# to create these APIs. This makes them simpler for many programmers to handle. As per my research, python is one of the best languages for creating rest APIs after JavaScript. So, if you find JavaScript difficult, you can enroll in a Python Programming online course to get started.
REST API Best Practices
It's important to follow best practices when making and using REST APIs. This helps apps talk smoothly with one another. I have listed a few things below–these will make it easier for programmers to fit in and build a strong structure.
1. Clear and Consistent Naming:
Set up a simple name for points in the computer that is easy to understand and shows what each part does. Using the same name makes an API easier to understand and use. This helps developers plug it in with fewer problems. I suggest that you enroll in a Computer Programming course for beginners to learn in a more structured way.
2. Appropriate Use of HTTP Methods:
Use HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE in the way they were meant to be used. For example, use GET to get data. Use POST for making new resources. Use PUT for changing existing items, and DELETE can be used when you want to remove them altogether. This follows the rules of a standard interface.
3. Error Handling:
Put in serious mistakes, managing to give clear and useful answers when problems happen. Include important mistake numbers and messages to help developers fix problems, improving the total user feeling. Especially in a programming language like Java, you must be careful as everything is based on troubleshooting. To make your knowledge more valid, you can join a Java certification course too.
4. Security Measures:
Put safety first by using HTTPS to protect data while it moves. Put in systems to verify and allow access. This will keep important data safe and make sure the API is good quality, and only those who need it can use it.
Common Rest API Challenges
- REST endpoint consensus: It makes little difference how you style your URLs, but consistency across your API is essential. Unfortunately, as procedures get more complicated, the number of possible possibilities grows even more significant. As a result, consistency on huge codebases with multiple developers can be challenging.
- REST API versioning: APIs are frequently versioned to avoid compatibility difficulties. However, old endpoints remain alive, increasing effort due to the maintenance of numerous APIs.
- REST API authentication: API authentication will differ based on the circumstance. It treats the third-party programs as logged-in users with specified privileges and permissions. Registered users can also utilize third-party programs to access their data, such as searching for emails or documents.
- REST API Security: Even though RESTful APIs make it easier to access and change your application, security vulnerabilities might arise. A client, for example, can submit hundreds of requests per second and destroy your server.
- Multiple Requests and Unnecessary Data: A response may contain more information than you require or require additional queries to get all the data.
Conclusion
This article taught us about what is REST, API, and RESTful API principles. We've looked at REST API, what REST API is used for, and how to use it. REST API interaction methods are a pretty comprehensive notion with no explicit specifications. Finally, we discovered that REST API is an architectural style employed for component interactions rather than a standard in and of itself.
We advocate a further in-depth investigation of REST API JSON and REST API GraphQL techniques and their use in practice for future studies. UpGrad KnowledgeHut's extensive Java Programming courses can help you achieve great mileage in understanding REST API with practical implications.
