Rest APIs: Building the Backbone of Digital Communication
Blog post from PubNub
Representational State Transfer (REST) APIs have become a preferred choice for developers due to their simplicity and scalability, facilitating efficient interactions in modern applications through a standardized set of rules. RESTful APIs function like a library, where resources are identified by unique URIs and can be manipulated using standard HTTP methods such as GET and POST, making them easily understandable and integrable. Key principles such as uniform interface, client-server separation, and statelessness enable REST APIs to be user-friendly and scalable, while optional principles like cacheability, layered systems, and versioning enhance their functionality. REST APIs are widely used across various industries, including e-commerce and social media, and are popular for their cross-programming language compatibility. Additionally, platforms like PubNub build on REST principles to offer real-time communication capabilities, allowing developers to focus on creating interactive features without the complexity of managing real-time data exchange.