Node.js RESTful API

REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style for designing networked applications that has become the standard for web services. RESTful APIs provide a flexible, lightweight way to integrate applications and enable communication between different systems.

Everything is a resource (user, product, order)

Resources can have multiple representations (JSON, XML, etc.)

RESTful APIs use HTTP requests to perform CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete) on resources, which are represented as URLs. REST is stateless, meaning each request from a client to a server must contain all the information needed to understand and process the request. Unlike SOAP or RPC, REST is not a protocol but an architectural style that leverages existing web standards like HTTP, URI, JSON, and XML.

Understanding these principles is crucial for designing effective RESTful APIs. They ensure your API is scalable, maintainable, and easy to use.

Client doesn't need to know about the underlying architecture The core principles of REST architecture include:

: Separation of concerns between the client and the server

: No client context is stored on the server between requests

: A client cannot tell whether it is connected directly to the end server

: Resources are identified in requests, resources are manipulated through representations, self-descriptive messages, and HATEOAS (Hypertext As The Engine Of Application State)