REST | API | HTTP | JSON
REST (Representational State Transfer) is a software architectural style that defines a set of constraints for creating web services. REST is used to create web services that are lightweight, maintainable, and scalable.
REST is based on the idea of representing the state of a resource, such as a document or database record, using a simple and predictable set of operations such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE. These operations are called HTTP methods and correspond to the four basic CRUD operations (create, read, update, delete) commonly used in database systems.
REST is used to create APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that allow different software systems to communicate with each other over the Internet. REST APIs use the HTTP protocol, which is the foundation of the World Wide Web, to send and receive data.
Some technologies related to REST are:
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation): A lightweight data exchange format commonly used in REST APIs to send data between the client and the server.
OAuth (Open Authorization): An open standard for authorization that allows users to share their private resources (such as photos, videos, and documents) stored on one website with another without sharing their credentials.
Swagger: A tool for creating and documenting REST APIs. Swagger allows developers to describe the structure of their APIs in a standardized format and create interactive documentation, client libraries, and server stubs.
Overall, REST is a widely used approach to building APIs and is an important part of the modern web.
BITS experts have used REST in a variety of projects. A selection of case studies and references can be found below.
