DEV Community

Cover image for API, REST, and RESTful API Simplified.
Paul C. Ishaili
Paul C. Ishaili

Posted on

API, REST, and RESTful API Simplified.

What is API?

APIs are interface programs that let the components of two or more different applications, that are not fully integrated with each other, interact with one another.

What is REST

REST is a method (a software architectural style) of building and using programs, i.e. APIs, that can effectively communicate with other applications.

What does REST do?

Rest standardizes how APIs and applications function. While every application is different, using REST to guide development makes certain aspects of the design more predictable.

Rest uses HTTP requests like GET, PUT, POST, and DELETE to manage CRUD (Create, Read, Update, and DELETE) operations.

What is RESTful?

While REST is a set of constraints, RESTful is an API that adheres to those constraints.

Conclusion

A RESTful API (popularly referred to as RESTAPI is an API that conforms to the constraints of REST architectural style and allows for interaction with other RESTful services.

Reference / Deep Diving

Acknowledgement

Dev P Academy

Thanks for engaging 🎉.

Top comments (3)

Collapse
 
decker67 profile image
decker

What is simplified here?

Collapse
 
naucode profile image
Al - Naucode

Thanks, it was a good read, bookmarked, and followed!

Collapse
 
user_661ff24093 profile image
user_661ff24093

Good summary! Thanks