REST, or Representational State Transfer, is a paradigm for developing web applications that emphasizes stateless communication and a uniform interface to enable efficient interactions across different systems. Node.js, a popular open-source JavaScript platform, is ideal for building RESTful APIs due to its event-driven, non-blocking architecture, which supports both synchronous and asynchronous development. The integration of REST with Node.js, particularly through the use of frameworks like Express, can create scalable, efficient, and extensible APIs. To achieve a truly RESTful API, developers must adhere to principles like statelessness, cacheability, and a uniform interface, often evaluated using the Richardson Maturity Model, which outlines stages from basic URI usage to the incorporation of hypermedia controls. The process of creating a RESTful API involves setting up a development environment, creating an API skeleton, establishing routes and endpoints, and implementing CRUD operations, all while ensuring the inclusion of HATEOAS for relational links within data. Additionally, best practices such as authentication, authorization, and careful API structure are crucial to maintaining security and functionality in RESTful API development.