RESTful API Design with HTTP

1. Introduction

REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style that uses HTTP requests to access and use data. This lesson covers the essentials of designing a RESTful API, focusing on the HTTP protocol.

2. Key Concepts

2.1 What is REST?

REST is an architectural design pattern that allows communication between client and server over a stateless protocol.

2.2 Resources

In REST architecture, resources are identified by URIs (Uniform Resource Identifiers) and are manipulated using HTTP methods.

3. HTTP Methods

GET - Retrieve data from the server.
POST - Submit data to the server.
PUT - Update existing data on the server.
DELETE - Remove data from the server.

4. HTTP Status Codes

200 OK - Successful request.
201 Created - Resource successfully created.
400 Bad Request - Invalid request.
404 Not Found - Resource not found.
500 Internal Server Error - Server encountered an error.

5. Design Principles

Tip: Always use nouns to represent resources in your URIs.

Stateless interactions.
Use of standard HTTP methods.
Resource-based URIs.
Use of standard status codes.

6. Best Practices

Version your API (e.g., /api/v1/resource).
Use meaningful resource names.
Implement pagination for large datasets.
Provide detailed error messages.

7. FAQ

What is the difference between PUT and PATCH?

PUT updates a resource entirely, while PATCH updates only specified fields of a resource.

Why is REST stateless?

Statelessness allows the server to treat each request independently, improving scalability and reliability.

Can I use REST with other protocols besides HTTP?

While REST is most commonly used with HTTP, it can theoretically work with other protocols, but HTTP is preferred due to its widespread support and features.

8. Flowchart for RESTful API Design


            graph TD;
                A[Start] --> B{Is it a resource?};
                B -- Yes --> C[Define the resource];
                B -- No --> D[Reconsider your design];
                C --> E{Choose HTTP Method};
                E -- GET --> F[Retrieve Resource];
                E -- POST --> G[Create Resource];
                E -- PUT --> H[Update Resource];
                E -- DELETE --> I[Remove Resource];
                F --> J[Return Response];
                G --> J;
                H --> J;
                I --> J;
                J --> K[End];