Architecture
A REST API is a web API that follows the REST architectural style, using standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) and stateless communication to expose resources identified by URLs.
REST's stateless constraint means each request from a client must contain all information needed to process it — the server stores no session state between calls — which makes REST APIs highly scalable and easy to cache. Resources are represented as URLs (e.g., /users/42/orders) and responses are typically JSON, making REST APIs intuitive and human-readable. The uniform interface principle ensures that any HTTP client — a browser, mobile app, or another service — can consume a REST API without bespoke integration code. REST APIs are the dominant style for public and internal web APIs because of their simplicity, widespread tooling support, and alignment with how the web itself works.
Example
An inventory management system exposes a REST API endpoint GET /products/{id} that returns product details in JSON, consumed by both the web dashboard and the mobile warehouse app.
Related terms
API (Application Programming Interface)
An API is a defined set of rules and protocols that allows one software application to request and exchange data or functionality with another, acting as a structured contract between systems.
GraphQL
GraphQL is a query language and runtime for APIs that allows clients to request exactly the data fields they need in a single request, eliminating over-fetching and under-fetching problems common in REST APIs.
API Gateway
An API gateway is a server that acts as the single entry point for all client requests in a distributed system, routing them to appropriate backend services while handling cross-cutting concerns like authentication, rate limiting, SSL termination, and request logging.
Webhook
A webhook is an HTTP callback mechanism in which one application automatically sends a real-time data payload to a designated URL in another application whenever a specific event occurs, enabling event-driven integrations without polling.
Ready to grow your business?
Tell us what you're building. We'll reply within one business day with a clear next step.