What is REST API?

REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style for building APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). An API that follows the REST architectural style is called a REST API.

In simple terms, a REST API is a way for two programs to communicate with each other over the internet. The API defines a set of rules and standards that must be followed in order for the programs to communicate successfully. This includes rules for how the programs will request data from each other, and how they will respond to requests.

A REST API uses HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) as the underlying communication protocol. This means that a REST API is accessed using standard HTTP methods, such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE. These methods specify the type of action that the client (the program making the request) wants the server (the program receiving the request) to perform.

REST APIs are commonly used in web development, and they are a popular choice for building APIs that expose data and functionality to other systems. They are easy to implement and use, and they follow a straightforward set of rules that make it possible for different programs to communicate with each other in a predictable and consistent way.