REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style used to design scalable, stateless web services that leverage standard HTTP methods. It enables systems to communicate over the internet in a structured and consistent way, commonly using JSON or XML for data exchange.
REST is widely used in web development, cloud services, and mobile backends, where interoperability and performance are essential. It defines how resources are identified, accessed, and manipulated using standard HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE.
- Design and consume APIs using HTTP methods and status codes
- Structure data payloads in JSON or XML formats
- Implement stateless communication between clients and servers
- Use resource-based URL patterns for endpoint design
- Support versioning, authentication, and error handling in APIs
Developers, backend engineers, and API specialists commonly use REST to build services for web and mobile applications. It is foundational in roles involving microservices, cloud integration, and full-stack development. Proficiency in REST includes understanding HTTP semantics, request-response cycles, caching, and security practices like OAuth or API keys.
REST differs from older protocols like SOAP by emphasizing simplicity, scalability, and performance. While not a protocol itself, it guides how APIs should be structured to ensure reliability and ease of integration across diverse platforms and programming languages.
