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RESTful APIs and Web Services
➤ RESTful APIs :-1. Definition:
‣ REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style for designing networked applications. It relies on stateless communication and standard HTTP methods.
2. Principles:
‣ Statelessness: Each request from a client to server must contain all the information needed to understand and process the request.
‣ Client-Server Architecture: The client and server are independent, allowing for better scalability and separation of concerns.
‣ Cacheability: Responses must define themselves as cacheable or not to improve performance.
‣ Uniform Interface: A consistent method for communication, typically using standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE).
3. HTTP Methods:
‣ GET: Retrieve data from the server.
‣ POST: Submit data to be processed.
‣ PUT: Update existing data.
‣ DELETE: Remove data.
4. Resource Identification:
‣ Resources are identified using URIs (Uniform Resource Identifiers). Each resource can be accessed and manipulated through its URI.
5. Response Formats:
‣ Common formats for responses include JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) and XML (eXtensible Markup Language).
➤ Web Services :-
1. Definition:
‣ Web services are standardized ways of integrating web-based applications using open standards over an internet protocol backbone. They allow communication between different applications regardless of the platforms they run on.
2. Types:
‣ SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol): A protocol for exchanging structured information in the implementation of web services. It relies heavily on XML. ‣ RESTful Web Services: Based on REST architecture, using HTTP for communication and typically returning JSON or XML.
3. Key Features:
‣ Interoperability: Different systems can communicate, regardless of their underlying architecture. ‣ Loosely Coupled: Changes in one system do not require changes in others, as long as the contract (API) remains the same.
4. Use Cases:
‣ Web services can be used in various applications such as payment processing, data integration, and mobile application backends.
RESTful APIs have become the standard for web services due to their simplicity and flexibility. They enable seamless integration across platforms and are widely used in modern web and mobile applications. Understanding these concepts is essential for building scalable and efficient applications in today's interconnected environment.
