REST API interview questions

APIs, specifically REST APIs, are crucial components of modern applications, with many non-developer roles now requiring knowledge of them. REST, or Representational State Transfer, is an architectural style for web services that uses standard HTTP methods to perform operations on resources identified by URIs, with data typically represented in JSON or XML. REST emphasizes stateless, standardized interactions, making HTTP an ideal protocol for its implementation. Unlike SOAP, which is XML-based and follows a strict structure, REST is flexible and more widely used, though SOAP remains relevant in enterprise systems requiring robust security and error handling. Key features of REST APIs include statelessness, which simplifies server design and enhances scalability, and a clear separation of concerns between client and server, promoting modularity. Common HTTP methods such as PUT and PATCH handle resource modifications differently, with PUT replacing entire resources and PATCH making partial updates. Idempotency in REST ensures specific HTTP methods yield consistent results upon repeated execution, although methods like POST and sometimes PATCH do not adhere to this principle. HTTP status codes communicate the outcomes of client requests, with codes like 200 indicating success and others like 404 or 500 indicating errors. While statelessness in REST APIs enables efficient handling of numerous requests and improves scalability, it can lead to larger payload sizes and necessitates client-side management of retries in failure scenarios.

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