REST API (Representational State Transfer Application Programming Interface) is an architectural style used to design web services that allow communication between client and server over HTTP. It enables applications to send and receive data in a standardized way, usually using JSON format.
In web and backend development, REST APIs are widely used to connect frontend applications, mobile apps, and external services with backend systems. They follow stateless communication, meaning each request contains all necessary information to be processed independently.
For example:
- A mobile app uses a REST API to fetch user profile data from a server.
- An e-commerce website retrieves product listings through API endpoints.
- A social media platform sends posts, comments, and likes via REST APIs.
- A weather app gets live weather data from an external API service.
Common technologies and concepts related to REST APIs include:
- HTTP Methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)
- JSON (JavaScript Object Notation)
- Endpoints (URLs)
- Client-Server Architecture
- Authentication (JWT, OAuth)
- Stateless Communication
- Backend Frameworks (Node.js, Laravel, Django)
- API Testing Tools (Postman)