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Before talking about RESTful API, a reminder of API or Application Programming Interface could be helpful. API is a type of programming interface that connects a group of instructions and mechanisms. This communication is done with the help of different programs or components of an application. Interface here means a concept that connects two objects or two different subjects. Let us use an example to understand more. As you know, GitHub is a special type of API service through which a set of data can be accessed. This data can be user information and even their repositories.
With the help of API, you can receive this information and use it in your project after making changes. The concept of REST is also shortened from representational state transfer and means data display. This information is only for users and is read with the help of methods that have good readability. It’s good to know, REST is not a guideline or a standard, but only a path or solution developed for writing APIs.
You can also read the article What is Application Programming Interface (API)? if needed.
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What is the architecture and mechanism of RESTful API?
Now that we are familiar with the basic concept of RESTful API, we will continue to discuss the architecture and mechanism of RESTful API. As mentioned, Rust Full API is one of the most important architectures that contribute to the development of the web. RESTful is a type of API design architecture and is currently used by many software companies. With the help of this type of architecture, developers can communicate with each other with the services they provide. It is good to know, this expanded architecture model of the website was first introduced in the year 2000. Roy Fielding was the first person to reflect this issue in his doctoral thesis. He, who is one of the computer science scientists, was named as the youngest inventor in 1999. Roy Fielding is also the founder of the Apache web server.
In other words, RESTful API is a set of guidelines that can be used to create a web service. In addition to having good speed, web services are also reliable and can be developed. In fact, RESTfuls are not a subject to be included in programming languages or frameworks; Because they are in a way software development rules, and if we follow them in the development of an API, the services we will provide will be known as RESTful.
RESTful API and return data format issue
In the RESTful API architecture, the letters RE are part of the term Representational. This word refers to the subject of the returned data format, which is noticeable from the server side. This format can include HMTL, XMLT and JSON or any other format. Let’s give an example to better understand the problem. Just as water can be poured into a glass, a pitcher, or into an ice mold, resources can have different states like water. The resource can be used in the context of the server and can be presented in different formats such as JSON, HMTL, XMLT, etc.
In the Rest Full API architecture, the words State Transfer mean that instead of saving the state of the client on the server side, all the information is saved on the client side. In this case, any request can be sent to the server. Therefore, this type of architecture is called Stateless. This is what makes us able to expand distributed systems and provide it to millions of users at the same time. In this way, clients will be able to communicate with the server and request the information they need.
Features of REST API
RESTful API has four features, namely, statelessness and scalability, support for JSON and XML software, the ability to reflect changes in documentation and issue error messages. In the following, each of these four features is explained separately.
1- Statelessness and scalability
2- Support for JSON and XML software
Another feature of REST API is to meet the expectations of people who use the JSON language. RESTFull API is well able to support this software. Even Microsoft and Google use this type of architecture.
3- Ability to reflect changes in documentation
REST API has the ability to reflect changes in documentation. This means that every change that takes place in the RESTful API architecture should be reflected in its documentation. This can help any developer using the app know exactly what to expect. Documentation also needs an API to update its data. For better and synchronized updates, a tool called Swagger can be used. With the help of this tool, the details of each API can be updated automatically.
4- Issuing the error message
Another positive feature of REST API is issuing an error message. This means that when an error occurs, RESTful API notifies developers with a message.4
What are the benefits of RESTFull API?
One of the most important features of RESTfull API is its high flexibility. If the client and server are hosted on other servers, users can easily interact with the server and send their requests. In other words, REST is able to monitor and control multiple calls. It can even return different information formats and even make structural changes by using hypermedia properly. This flexibility makes it possible to create an API that meets the needs of the user. Unlike SOAP, REST is not limited to XML because it can change to XML, JSON, YAML or any other format depending on the client’s demand.
