Summary
REST APIs facilitate communication between applications in today's interconnected digital world. We explored the HTTP protocol, HTTP methods, HTTP status codes, and HTTP headers. We then explored API versioning, the Data Transfer Objects (DTOs), and the importance of API contracts. Here are a few Key Takeaways:
- REST & HTTP: REST APIs are integral to web application communication. They use HTTP as their transport protocol, leveraging its methods, status codes, and headers to facilitate interaction between different applications.
- HTTP Methods: HTTP methods or verbs (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, PATCH) define the type of action a client can perform on a resource in a RESTful API. Understanding these methods is crucial for carrying out CRUD operations.
- HTTP Status Codes and Headers: HTTP status codes inform clients about the success or failure of their requests. HTTP headers transmit additional information and describe clients' options and capabilities. Both are essential...