REST APIs have become the de facto standard for establishing connections between microservices because of their low overhead and high adaptability.
What is an API?
The term "application programming interface" (API) refers to a standard set of protocols for establishing and maintaining connections between software programs and hardware devices.
An API is a collection of standards and guidelines for developing and integrating software applications. Similar to a contract, it specifies what the provider needs from the user and what the user needs from the provider.
Simply said, an API is a way to convey your needs to a computer or system so that it may get the desired data or carry out the desired action. In this sense, an API may be seen as a go-between between clients and the web services or other resources they need.
If an API follows the guidelines established by the REST, or representational state transfer, architectural style, then we can call it a REST API. RESTful APIs are so named because they adhere to the REST architectural style.
What is REST API?
As an architectural approach, REST specifies a number of rules that must be followed while developing a web service. In simple terms, REST API is a protocol for gaining access to online services in a manner that does not need any processing on the client's end.
Compared to the more powerful Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), REST technology is widely favored because of its lower bandwidth requirements, its simplicity, and its adaptability, all of which make it well-suited to use over the internet. It's purpose is to request or provide data to a web service. If you're using a REST API for communication, you'll only ever send and receive HTTP requests.
Benefits of REST APIs
Representational State Transfer APIs (also known as RESTful APIs) are becoming more common. Because of this meteoric rise in popularity, many developers now rely on REST APIs for mission-critical software.
The question therefore becomes, why has REST APIs grown so widespread, and what are its advantages? Lightweight, scalable, adaptable, and self-sufficient are four terms that describe this solution.
REST APIs' reliance on the HTTP standard makes them format-agonistic, allowing for the usage of XML, JSON, HTML, and so on. As a result, REST APIs are quick and lightweight, making them ideal for use in mobile app development and the Internet of Things.
Because the server and client are separate entities, REST APIs provide another advantage. To rephrase, the REST protocol abstracts the user interface and data storage from the server. Because of this, developers may split up tasks and experiment with various development environments as they see fit.
The third and maybe most essential advantage of REST APIs is their scalability and adaptability. Separating the client from the server is a key factor in REST APIs' scalability. Moreover, REST APIs need no extra effort from developers to include.
There is no limit to the ways in which REST APIs may be useful. REST APIs save money and time while being efficient, fast, and light. Furthermore, you can now connect your OneHash account via rest API to make most of an affective API architecture.
