A REST API is an application programming interface that adheres to the constraints of the REST architectural style and enables interaction with RESTful web services. REST stands for REpresentational State Transfer, which is an architectural style for creating websites using the HTTP protocol. In a RESTful API, every component is a resource and is accessed by a common interface using HTTP standard methods. The HTTP methods commonly used in REST-based architecture are:
- GET: used to provide a read-only access to a resource.
- PUT: used to create a new resource.
- POST: used to update an existing resource or create a new resource.
- DELETE: used to delete an existing resource.
Node.js is an ideal choice for developers who are looking to create fast and efficient web applications with RESTful APIs. To create a REST API with Node.js, developers can use frameworks like Express. REST APIs are used to access and manipulate data using a common set of stateless operations. These operations are integral to the HTTP protocol and represent essential create, read, update, and delete (CRUD) functionality.
