Representational State Transfer, commonly known as REST, is an architectural style applied to web APIs. It provides a simple, uniform interface, making data, content, algorithms, media, and other digital resources available through web URLs. REST APIs are easy to understand and learn due to their simplicity. They offer the ability to manage high loads with the help of HTTP proxy servers and caches. Furthermore, they are independent, meaning the client and server applications can be developed independently of each other.
REST APIs have several advantages. They are lightweight, relying on the HTTP standard, which makes them fast and suitable for mobile app projects and internet of things devices. They are scalable and flexible, primarily due to the separation between the client and the server. This scalability and flexibility make REST APIs a popular choice for critical projects⁸.
In terms of applications, REST APIs are used to perform standard database functions like creating, reading, updating, and deleting records within a resource. They are the backbone of the web, mobile, and device applications today. They are used to fetch or give some information from a web service. All communication done via REST API uses only HTTP requests.