DEV Community

Exploring How Websites Talk: A Beginner's Guide to HTTP Requests, APIs, and Backend Magic

Ibrahim Aziz on August 03, 2023

Introduction: Have you ever wondered how websites and apps communicate with each other to fetch data or perform actions? Well, that's wh...
Collapse
 
oyohalexandra profile image
Alexandra Oyoh Alison

You sure know how to grab the attention of your audience! A child can read this and get an unforgettable understanding of these technical terms and how they work. Thanks for sharing! I understood every word! Take your flowers... 🌹🌹🌹🌹

Collapse
 
ibrahzizo360 profile image
Ibrahim Aziz

Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words! I'm thrilled that the explanation resonated with you. Making complex topics accessible is always the goal. Your enthusiasm is truly appreciated. Keep nurturing that curiosity, and feel free to reach out if you have more questions. Here's a bouquet of appreciation right back at you! 🌹🌹🌹🌹

Collapse
 
oyohalexandra profile image
Alexandra Oyoh Alison

Sure thing.

Collapse
 
liyasthomas profile image
Liyas Thomas

This is very informative. Learned a lot about APIs and generally RESTful APIs.

If anyone like to spin up a RESTful API online - checkout Hoppscotch.io - helps to make requests directly from the browser.

GitHub logo hoppscotch / hoppscotch

πŸ‘½ Open source API development ecosystem - https://hoppscotch.io

Collapse
 
ibrahzizo360 profile image
Ibrahim Aziz

Just checked it out and it's awesome. Thanks a lot!

Collapse
 
muneebwaqas416 profile image
MUNEEB WAQAS

Can anyone explain that if we have CMS then why do we have all the tech stacks like MERN and MEAN?

Collapse
 
ibrahzizo360 profile image
Ibrahim Aziz

In the dynamic realm of web development, the coexistence of CMS and specialized tech stacks like MERN and MEAN serve distinct purposes. CMS as we know simplifies content management for wide range of websites, from blogs to small businesses, while MERN and MEAN cater to the demands of modern, interactive web applications. CMS platforms provide user-friendly interfaces and pre-built templates, ideal for those seeking an efficient way to manage content without in-depth technical expertise. Conversely, MERN and MEAN tech stacks offer developers unparalleled flexibility and control when building intricate applications with real-time features, personalized user experiences, and advanced backend logic. It's not a matter of one versus the other, but rather a strategic selection based on the complexity and unique requirements of each project. I hope this helps😊.

Collapse
 
chrisburkssn profile image
Chris Burks

That was a great explanation.

Thread Thread
 
ibrahzizo360 profile image
Ibrahim Aziz

Thank you for your positive feedback!

Collapse
 
mohiyaddeen7 profile image
mohiyaddeen7 • Edited

While CMS (content management systems ) platforms are great for simpler websites or content-centric applications, MERN (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js), MEAN (MongoDB, Express, Angular, Node.js), and similar stacks are preferred when you need to build custom functionalities, real-time updates, single-page applications, APIs, and more. They allow developers to tailor the technology to their specific needs and create more versatile and powerful web applications.

Hope this answers to your question.πŸ˜‡
Follow me for more amazing insights, guides, tips and tricks related to web development.

Collapse
 
muneebwaqas416 profile image
MUNEEB WAQAS

So majority of the clients want faster development and CMS is also good for hastle free development for developers as well .So what about the one who is learning MERN and MEAN stack?

Thread Thread
 
mohiyaddeen7 profile image
mohiyaddeen7

Learning full-stack frameworks allows you to develop an application with flexibility and gives you full control over your application, which makes it great for certain projects that need more interaction, customization, and advanced features.
Ultimately it depends on your client needs whether they want quick content focused website or more powerful application with custom functionalities.✌️

Collapse
 
olivia73code profile image
Olivia73-code

Thank you so much for this post, I have heard of API a few times and never quite understood it, now I do. I'm looking forward to learning more about it in the near future.

Collapse
 
ibrahzizo360 profile image
Ibrahim Aziz

You're very welcome! I'm delighted to hear that the post helped clarify things for you regarding APIs. It's fantastic that you're eager to learn more. APIs have a lot to offer, and I'm here to help with any questions you might have on your learning journey. Keep that curiosity alive! πŸŒŸπŸ“š

Collapse
 
olivia73code profile image
Olivia73-code

Thank you Ibrahim, yeah I am excited for when I get to that part of my learning journey, at the moment just finished learning about HTML Tables. I will keep that in mind. Thank you for the offer of support 😊

Thread Thread
 
respect17 profile image
Kudzai Murimi

Thank you Ibrahim

Collapse
 
sheeper profile image
schaeferto

Nice to read. But what about the PATCH http method. I would use that to update a resource instead of PUT.

Using PUT for creating a new resource.

Collapse
 
ibrahzizo360 profile image
Ibrahim Aziz

Absolutely, you've got a keen grasp on HTTP methods! The PATCH method is indeed a valuable addition to your toolbox when it comes to updating resources. It's particularly handy when you only need to modify specific parts of a resource without affecting the entire structure. This can help save bandwidth and processing time.

And you're spot on about using PUT for creating new resources. PUT is typically used for both creating and updating resources, but some folks lean toward reserving PUT specifically for updates to existing resources. Using POST for resource creation aligns well with this approach, as POST doesn't require the client to specify a URL for the resource in advance, making it perfect for creating new entities.

You're on a great path of understanding these methods and their nuances. Keep exploring and applying your insights! πŸŒŸπŸ‘

Collapse
 
fpalamour profile image
fpalamour

Do you need POST method then ?

I personally like using PUT to fully update a resource, and PATCH to partially update a resource.

Collapse
 
10970871 profile image
InspireCode

Enlightened sir. Thank you so much..
Keep more coming

Collapse
 
ibrahzizo360 profile image
Ibrahim Aziz

I appreciate your kind words! I'm glad you found the article enlightening. If you have any more thoughts or questions about the content I published, or if there's anything else you'd like to discuss, please feel free to share😊.

Collapse
 
yoganandam profile image
Yogananda Muthaiah

How do you make this good interactive gifs .. I like it.

Collapse
 
lakshmananarumugam profile image
Lakshmanan Arumugam

Good one.

For beginner reference example here available

Collapse
 
ibrahzizo360 profile image
Ibrahim Aziz

Thanks manπŸ‘

Collapse
 
matfigueiredo profile image
Matheus Figueiredo

Thanks man!

Collapse
 
ibrahzizo360 profile image
Ibrahim Aziz

You're welcome! If you ever need more information or assistance, don't hesitate to reach out. Happy learning and coding! πŸš€πŸ‘¨β€πŸ’»

Collapse
 
respect17 profile image
Kudzai Murimi

Thanks a lot! Well written article.

Collapse
 
anirudha_patil profile image
Anirudha Patil • Edited

@ibrahim Aziz You've got a beautiful way of making complex things easy to digest. πŸ•πŸ˜‰ Keep up the good work.

Collapse
 
gyauelvis profile image
Gyau Boahen Elvis

Just here to copy and learn for my next article πŸ˜‚

Collapse
 
ibrahzizo360 profile image
Ibrahim Aziz

I see😁