REST (Representational State Transfer) API
Description:
The most common type of web API, RESTful APIs use HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, PATCH) and follow stateless communication principles.
Common Use Cases:
Web services
E-commerce applications
Social media integrations
Data Format:
JSON, XML
Key Features:
Stateless: Each request from a client contains all necessary information. The server does not store any session state between requests.
Simple and Flexible: Utilizes standard HTTP methods, with communication typically in JSON format.
Resource-Based: Organized around "resources" (e.g., products, users, orders) accessed via URLs (e.g., /api/products).
Real-Life Examples:
Twitter API: Allows developers to interact with Twitter's data, such as retrieving tweets or posting new ones.
GitHub API: Provides access to GitHub repositories, issues, and pull requests.
Note:[Stateless vs. Stateful ]
Stateless: Each request is independent. The server does not store any context between requests.
Stateful: The server maintains context or state between client requests, often storing session information on the server. Stateful systems can track user interactions over time.
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