What Is a RESTful API and Its Methods?

Photo by Marcos Henrique Da Silva on Toptal

In a Web Development Industry, We all are Using and Building REST APIs in our daily life. Simply, API (Application Programming Interface)means communication between applications. Now the question is What is RESTful API?

In this article, I am going to explain the basic definition of RESTful API.

Let’s say if we are trying to find videos about Elon Musk on Youtube. We open Youtube, type “Elon Musk” into a search field, hit enter, and we can see a list of videos about Elon Musk. A REST API works in a similar way. We search for something, and we get a list of results back from the service we are requesting from.

An API (application programming interface), which is a set of rules that allow programs to talk to each other. The developer creates the API on the server and allows the client to talk to it.

Definition: The RESTful API or REST (Representational State Transfer) API is an easy way to handle communication between individual systems as different as smartphones and other websites.

The RESTful API is also known as a RESTful web service whichis based on Representation State Transfer (REST) technology, an architectural design, and an interactive approach often used in the development of web services.

It is an application program interface (API) that uses HTTP requests for GET, PUT, POST, and DELETE data.

Methods to Route the Data Using RESTful API (Routing Methods/HTTP Methods)

1. GET (READ)

GET is the simplest type of HTTP request method; the one that browsers use each time you click a link or type a URL into the address bar.

This method is used to get a resource from a server. If we perform a GET request, the server looks for the data we requested and sends it back to us. In other words, a GET request performs a READ operation.

2. POST (CREATE)

POST is always for creating a resource (it does not matter if it was duplicated )

This method is used to create a new resource on a server. If we perform a POST request, the server creates a new entry in the database and tells us whether the creation is successful. In other words, a POST request performs a CREATE operation.

3. PUT (CREATE OR UPDATE)

PUT is for checking if the resource exists then update, else create a new resource

This method is used to update a resource on a server. If we perform a PUT request, the server updates an entry in the database if it exists and tells us whether the update is successful and If the resource is not available then it will create a new resource.

4. PATCH (UPDATE)

PATCH is always for update a resource

This method is used to update particular data on a server. If we perform a PATCH request, the server updates specific data on a server and If the resource is not available then it will throw an error.

5. DELETE

DELETE is easy to understand. It is used to delete a resource identified by a URL.

This method is used to delete a resource from a server. If we perform a DELETE request, the server deletes an entry in the database and tells us whether the deletion is successful. In other words, a DELETE request performs a DELETE operation.

The following image is a pictorial understanding of RESTful API.

what-is-a-restful-api-and-its-methods-63195758cde2

(What is REST API?)

Difference Between PUT and PATCH Requests

Now Let’s understand the difference between PUT and PATCH with an example

PUT and PATCH are HTTP verbs, which are both related to updating the database.

The key difference between PUT and PATCH requests is the way the server handles the enclosed entity to modify the resource identified by the Request-URL.

Now, Let’s say we have a resource that holds the first name and last name of a person.

If we want to change the first name but not the last name then we send a request for an Update with

PUT Request

{ "firstName": "Brijesh", "lastName": "Panchal" }

With PUT request, we have to send both parameters firstName and lastName, although we are only changing the firstName.

In other words, it is mandatory to send all values again, the full payload.

PATCH Request

{ "firstName": "Brijesh" }

With the PATCH request, we only send the data which we want to update. In other words, we only send the firstName to update, no need to send the lastName.

For this reason, the PATCH request requires less bandwidth.

So, These are the main methods using in building RESTful API. There are also some rules to create REST API. I will post another article for the Rules but this is the core concept and methods of RESTful API.

Conclusion:

For now, Developers have used RESTful APIs to add functionality to their websites and apps. Today, the RESTful APIs are known as the “backbone of the Internet.”

Sources:

https://www.tutorialswebsite.com/

https://www.smashingmagazine.com/

What Is a RESTful API and Its Methods?

What Is a RESTful API and Its Methods?

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