What Is REST API

REST API has emerged as the most versatile and useful net carrier API. Its simplicity, flexibility, and compatibility make it perfect for running with various types of statistics and interfacing with the maximum famous applications to be had. In this text, we’ll define REST (or RESTful) API and test how it compares to its predecessor, SOAP. In addition, we’ll explore how REST APIs work and why the trend closer to cloud integration makes REST APIs so critical for corporations these days.

What is meant by API ?

An application programming interface (API) is a connection between computer systems or between pc programs. It is a type of software program interface, imparting a carrier to different pieces of software program. A document that describes the way to build or use this sort of connection or interface is known as an API specification. A pc gadget that meets this general is stated to put into effect or disclose an API. The term API may refer both to the specification and the implementation.

What is meant by REST API ?

REST (Representational State Transfer) or RESTful API is a sort of API, or Application Program Interface, that enables internet provider applications to communicate with every other. While it's far theoretically well matched with any protocol or statistics format, REST most customarily uses the HTTP protocol and transfers information the use of JSON (JavaScript Object Notation). REST is one of the maximum popular selections for getting statistics from the net due to its flexibility, pace, and ease.

Until 2000, SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol), advanced via Microsoft, was the maximum extensively used platform for customer-server interactions. While SOAP was each useful and famous, the protocol had dangers. First, it required users to stick to strict guidelines regarding a way to have interaction with the server. Second, it trusted the bulky XML format.

Dissatisfied with the SOAP technique, scientist Roy Fielding introduced an alternative called “REST” in his 2000 doctoral dissertation. The major traits that set REST other than its predecessor have been multiplied formatting flexibility, extended speed, and reduced bandwidth. Today, REST is one of the most common types of API and is used by maximum major web companies which include Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, and Google.

What is REST API used for ?

To recognize REST API and the way it works, let's consider.

Suppose you need to look at video tutorials approximately ‘data integration’ on YouTube. You go to YouTube, type ‘data integration’ into the quest area, press input, and a list of videos about data integration comes on screen. Right?

A RESTful API works further. You are seeking out something and a listing of consequences returns out of your requested carrier. In REST, the idea is that all calls are stateless. In this method the REST carrier can’t hold something among executions, making it beneficial in cloud applications. This is due to the fact stateless elements may be without problems reassigned in case of failure. Moreover, they can be without problems scaled to recall load variations. That’s because any request can be dispatched to any instance of a constituent.

As no statistics may be retained that need to be recalled by the following transaction, REST is the preferred protocol for internet communique. As said earlier, the REST API technology is likewise useful in connecting to cloud programs, as accessing a carrier via an API wishes adjustment inside the URL interpretation. Similarly, REST API also can be used for mapping records from a cloud platform to a records warehouse or vice versa.

REST API is also used to develop Web Services.

Advantages of REST API -

• REST API is straightforward to understand and analyze, due to its simplicity, recognized API.
• REST API is capable of arranging complicated applications & making it easy to apply resources.
• The excessive load may be controlled with help out of HTTP proxy server & cache.
• REST API is simple to explore and discover.
• It makes it simple for brand new customers to work on other applications, whether it is designed specifically for motive or now not.
• Use popular HTTP system call-outs to retrieve facts and requests.
• REST API relies upon codes, can use to synchronize information with a website without any headaches.
• Users can avail get right of entry to the same general gadgets and facts model while in comparison to SOAP-based net services.
• Brings flexible codecs by serializing records in XML or JSON layout.
• Allows Standard-based protection with the usage of OAuth protocols to confirm your REST requests.

How does REST API works ?

REST determines the structure of an API. Developers oblige to a selected set of rules while designing an API. For example, one regulation states that linking to a URL has to return a little information. Every URL is known as a Request, while the information returned is referred to as Response.

REST API breaks a transaction down to generate a sequence of small components. Every factor addresses a selected essential factor of a transaction. This modularity makes it a bendy improvement technique. A REST API leverages HTTP strategies defined with the aid of the RFC 2616 protocol. It uses the subsequent requests:

GET to fetch records

PUT to modify the kingdom of records (together with an object, file, or block)

POST to create information

DELETE to get rid of it

Different HTTP reputation codes utilized by REST APIs can be seen here.

REST API design -

1) Client-Server

This REST principle works on the concept that customers and servers ought to be isolated from one another and accredited to increase independently. In this manner, you could enhance manageability across several systems and grow scalability through streamlining server components as user interface worries have become independent from the records storage concerns.

2) Stateless

As per this REST precept, APIs are stateless, this means that calls may be made independent of each other. Moreover, every name includes the data crucial to complete itself effectively. In different words, each request sent from the customer to the server needs to encompass all the information needed to understand the request.

3) Cacheable

As a stateless API can upsurge request overhead through dealing with massive loads of inbound and outbound calls, a REST API design has to be able to keep cacheable records. According to this API layout principle, facts within a response need to be circuitously or honestly labeled as cacheable or non-cacheable. If a response is cacheable, the purchaser cache is provided the right to recycle that response statistics for similar requests inside the destiny.

4) Uniform Interface

To decouple a customer from the server, you need to have a unified interface that lets in autonomous development of the software without tightly coupling its services, models, and movements to the API layer itself. This layout precept streamlines the whole machine structure and complements the visibility of communications. To gain a uniform interface, several architectural controls are required to guide the overall performance of the factors within the REST API architecture.

REST concepts are described via 4 interface controls, which include identification of resources, management of sources through representations, self-descriptive communications, and hypermedia as the engine of the software country.

5) Code on Demand

This REST precept allows for coding or applets to be communicated through the API used inside the application. A REST API definition permits extending purchaser functionality by way of downloading and implementing coding in the shape of applets or scripts. This streamlines clients by means of decreasing the wide variety of capabilities crucial to be pre-implemented. Most of the time, a server returns static useful resource illustration in XML or JSON format. But while required, servers can deliver executable code to the consumer.

REST API testing tools-

1) Postman

Postman is a plugin in Google Chrome, and it can be used for testing API offerings. It is an effective HTTP client to check net services. For guide or exploratory checking out, Postman is a superb desire for testing API.

• With Postman, nearly all contemporary web API facts can be extracted
• You can write Boolean checks inside Postman Interface
• You can create a group of REST calls and save each name as part of a group for execution in destiny,
• Unlike CURL, it is not a command-line primarily based device, which makes this tool problem freed from pasting text into the command line window
• For transmitting and receiving REST records, Postman is more reliable

Offical Website of Postman

https://www.Postman.Com/

2) vREST

vREST API testing device presents an internet solution for computerized testing, mocking, computerized recording, and specification of REST/HTTP APIs/RESTful APIs.

• It gives an exhaustive tool to quickly validate your REST APIs
• This rest API test device promises zero disorder web packages with less attempt in API trying out
• To validate your internet software no skilled sources are required, and it may generate documentation on your API specs
• API mocks can be created first with the help of Mock Server Functionality. Users can immediately begin developing frontend the use of mock HTTP requests

Offical Website of vREST

https://vrest.io/

3) Ping-API

Ping-API is API trying out allows putting in writing take a look at the script in JavaScript and CoffeeScript to test your APIs. It is one of the great API testing tools which permits examining HTTP API calls with entire request and response records. For any failures, the consumer gets a notification through electronic mail, Slack, or Hipchat.

• Ping- API to agenda test in each minute or hour
• Support for writing script to set request headers, body, and URL parameters. It supports for writing scripts to validate reaction headers and body
• It is one of the quality API tools that validate CRUD flow and log in to Ping API

Offical Website of Ping-API

https://ping-api.Com/

Examples of REST APIs

1) TWITTER API

The Twitter API allows users to get entry to Twitter in particular and advanced ways. Tap into core factors of Twitter-like: Tweets, Direct Messages, Spaces, Lists, users, and greater. Twitter API v2 is ready for top & prime time! We suggest that most of the people and developers start to consider migrating to v2 of the API, and for any new users to get began with v2.

2) FACEBOOK API

A Facebook API for developers makes use of HTTP POST and GET request techniques to add, retrieve, and delete statistics at the Facebook social media platform. Requests to get the right of information entry are made via the APIs endpoints. Responses are again in JSON format.

3) YOUTUBE API

 with YouTube API, you may add an expansion of YouTube features on your utility. Use the API to upload motion pictures, manipulate playlists and subscriptions, replace channel settings, and more. Search for content. Use the API to search for motion pictures matching specific search phrases, subjects, places, book dates, and plenty extra.

CONCLUSION

An API is a way to talk among different software program offerings the use of code. REST is fixed of regulations and hints for creating a particular sort of API, and now not all APIs are RESTful APIs.  REST stands for Representation State Transfer. 

RESTful APIs: 

• Have a predefined set of operations available to a consumer.
• Are based totally on resources
• Usually allow CRUD operations on sources — and CRUD stands for Create, Read, Update, Delete, and Are stateless.