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REST APIs

A REST API (Representational State Transfer Application Programming Interface) is a standardized architectural style for designing networked applications. It provides a scalable, flexible, and lightweight way for different software systems to communicate over HTTP.

Key Principles of REST APIs

  1. Statelessness – Each request from a client to the server must contain all necessary information. The server does not store client state between requests, improving scalability.
  2. Client-Server Separation – The frontend (client) and backend (server) are decoupled, allowing independent evolution of both.
  3. Uniform Interface – APIs follow standard conventions, typically using HTTP methods like:
  4. GET for retrieving data
  5. POST for creating resources
  6. PUT/PATCH for updating resources
  7. DELETE for removing resources
  8. Resource-Based – Everything is treated as a resource, identified by unique URIs (e.g., /users/123 represents a specific user).
  9. Cacheability – Responses can be cached to improve performance and reduce server load.
  10. Layered System – The architecture can have multiple layers (e.g., load balancers, security layers) without impacting the client.

Benefits

  • Scalability – Stateless design and caching enable horizontal scaling.
  • Interoperability – REST APIs use standard protocols (JSON, XML) and can be consumed by various clients (web, mobile, third-party apps).
  • Ease of Integration – Well-documented APIs facilitate seamless third-party integrations.
  • Security & Performance – Authentication mechanisms (OAuth, JWT, API keys) and optimizations like pagination and compression enhance efficiency.

Common Challenges & Considerations

  • Versioning – Managing API versions (v1, v2) to avoid breaking changes.
  • Rate Limiting & Throttling – Preventing abuse and ensuring fair usage.
  • Monitoring & Observability – Logging, analytics, and tracing (e.g., OpenTelemetry) for tracking performance and debugging.

REST APIs remain a foundational approach for modern distributed applications, though alternatives like GraphQL and gRPC are also gaining traction in certain scenarios.

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