A REST API (Representational State Transfer Application Programming Interface) is an interface that two computer systems use to exchange information securely over the internet. It is a way of accessing web services in a simple and flexible way without having any processing. REST is a software architectural style that defines a set of constraints to be used for creating web services. It was created to guide the design and development of the architecture for the World Wide Web. REST defines a set of architectural constraints, not a protocol or a standard. RESTful APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are defined with the following aspects:
- The resource identifier (URI) of one or several resources used as starting points, sometimes called endpoints or entry points.
- The encoding used for the data exchange, such as JSON or XML.
- The HTTP methods used to access the resources, such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE.
RESTful APIs are used to support information exchange because they follow secure, reliable, and efficient software communication standards. REST APIs are faster and more lightweight, with increased scalability, making them perfect for Internet of Things (IoT) and mobile app development.
