What is a RESTful API?

If you’re ready to leave clunky, outdated technology behind for good, RESTful APIs may hold the key. But what is a RESTful API, and how does it fit into your organization’s overall technology strategy?

In the simplest terms, RESTful API is an application programming interface (API) that conforms to the design principles of REST architecture.

REST, or representational state transfer, is an architectural style that facilitates better communication between systems by providing a standardized framework. Adopting RESTful API streamlines your organizational processes and helps you stay competitive in the fast-paced business landscape.

How do RESTful APIs work?

RESTful APIs field HTTP requests, aka API calls, and return all relevant data about the queried resource.

The API will then adhere to standardized HTTP methods to convert the data into a format the client application can interpret easily. The API receiving the API calls determines the specific format.

Some of the standard HTTP methodologies that RESTful APIs leverage include:

1. GET: The GET request is used to retrieve a resource.
2. PUT: The PUT request alters or updates a resource, such as a block, file, or object.
3. POST: The POST request creates a new resource.
4. DELETE: The DELETE request removes an existing resource.

A REST API, meaning one that fits the definition outlined above, can support a wide range of programming languages and data formats, including XML and JSON.

The response format for REST is HTTP, which can take the form of Python, PHP, HTML, or Javascript. The response format is the language used to collect data from the respondent.

Benefits of using RESTful APIs for businesses

RESTful architecture provides robust functionality and crucial business benefits, including the following:

Scalability

You can optimize scalability by integrating REST APIs into your systems thanks to their ability to streamline client-server interactions. Additionally, the stateless nature removes the server load, as the server no longer has to retain data about past requests.

REST APIs are also cacheable. This feature drastically reduces or, in some cases, eliminates client-server interactions.

Cumulatively, these features promote scalability while reducing the likelihood of communication bottlenecks. Your server can easily respond to client requests and relay data in accordance with the rules you implement.

RESTful APIs also support the integration of EDI, which is integral for secure and efficient communications between trading partners.

Independence

RESTful APIs are technologically agnostic. In other words, you can write server and client applications in various programming languages without negatively impacting the REST API design. Additionally, you can alter the underlying technology on the client or server side without hindering communication between linked systems.

Achieving technological independence makes API management significantly simpler. Your organization can pursue automation technologies and other modern software solutions without worrying about API functionality.

Flexibility

RESTful web services are capable of facilitating complete client-server separation. When you decouple various web applications and back-end server components, each part of your tech stack can evolve independently.

REST APIs also provide your software development team with much-needed flexibility. For instance, if your software development personnel need to alter the database layer of your tech stack, they can do so without rewriting application logic.

5 design principles of REST API

When considering whether REST APIs fit your organization’s technology needs, you should consider six essential design principles. These principles are often called “architectural constraints” and include the following concepts.

Uniform interface

To decouple the client from the server, you must implement a uniform interface that facilitates the independent evolution of the web application. There are four architectural constraints within this design element:

1. Requests identify resources using a “uniform resource identifier.”
2. Clients have enough data in the resource representation to delete or modify it if desired; the server allows this by sending the appropriate metadata to the client.
3. Clients receive data about how to process the representation further.
4. Clients receive information about all other resources needed to fulfill a specific task.

The REST API is said to have a uniform interface if it meets all the above criteria.

Client-server decoupling

According to this constraint, the client and server should be separate from one another to allow for independent evolution. Decoupling client-server assets also promotes scalability and flexibility.

Client-server decoupling has become increasingly common as organizations lean into headless website architecture and other innovative concepts. If your organization is pursuing similar technological innovation, you’ll need to decouple client and server resources.

Statelessness

REST APIs are also stateless, which means they can make API calls independent of one another.

To achieve statelessness, each call must contain all data necessary to complete itself. The communication doesn’t need to leverage data from previous communications to complete the request — a unique property of RESTful APIs.

Due to the stateless nature of REST API calls, clients can request resources in whatever order they choose. Each request is isolated, providing client-side flexibility when accessing resources.

Layered system

RESTful APIs feature a layered architecture. Each layer of the API serves a specific purpose. Together, they create a cohesive, exceptionally scalable hierarchy, primarily due to a modular design.

Under the layered system architecture, the client can communicate with authorized intermediaries and pass on requests to other servers. When building your RESTful web service, you can incorporate several layers of business logic and security, all of which will be invisible to the client.

Cacheability

REST APIs support caching, which is the process of storing select responses on an intermediary server or directly on the client server. Caching improves server response times and provides a streamlined client experience.

For instance, imagine a client visiting your website, which has common footer and header images on each page. Each time they transition to another page, the server would ordinarily have to resend the same images. However, REST APIs eliminate the need for this redundant process by caching (storing) the images after the first response.

When the client navigates to a new page on that site, they load the cached images instead of requesting them from the server.

Examples of RESTful APIs

You don’t have to look hard to find RESTful APIs in action across the web. In fact, you’ve likely interacted with at least a few REST APIs today as you visit your favorite websites.

Here are a few REST API examples you may be familiar with.

X (formerly Twitter)

X’s REST API allows third-party apps to read and write data. This capability supports a broad array of functionalities within X’s mobile app.

If you need to incorporate social media functionalities into your website, such as posting on forums or leaving comments under blog posts, you could integrate a similar REST API. Users also employ X’s API to download and analyze vast numbers of posts.

Spotify

Spotify’s RESTful web API allows users to request information about playlists, albums, songs, and artists. Every time you queue up your favorite tune or add songs to a playlist, you’re interacting with Spotify’s REST APIs.

Although your customers may not be trying to build playlists on your website, they’ll likely need to query information and add it to a cart or order request. In this way, your API would share some traits with Spotify’s RESTful APIs.

Instagram

Instagram has several REST APIs, including the Instagram Basic Display API. As the name suggests, it grants users access to profile information, posts, videos, and photos.

Any web application that needs to integrate photo or video-sharing functionalities could use a similar REST API. You could also leverage such an API to integrate client data into your product listings.

Ready to implement the REST framework? Orderful can help

Whether you want to streamline your online store or simplify your ERP EDI integration, Orderful can help you incorporate RESTful services into your technology strategy.

Orderful makes EDI integration simple with modern RESTful APIs. We offer a leading cloud-based system with the resources you need to connect your systems and trading partners. By streamlining client-side communication, we can help you be more responsive to customer requests and seamlessly exchange information with your partners.

To learn more about our powerful suite of Web APIs, contact us and schedule an appointment with one of our EDI experts.