What’s a REST API and why do you need it?

We know how APIs work right? It is similar to the example of a waiter taking orders from the guests and conveying it to the chef and bringing back the cooked food and drink as expected. So here, the waiter is API, guests are the clients and server will be the chef that cooks desired food. 

The use of API is massively changing the business website development arena. It continues to grow businesses and industries widespreadly.

However, one term that consistently comes up in today’s competitive world is the REST API. It allows various clients and the browser to simultaneously communicate with the server. The RESTful architecture is much in demand today because of its long list of benefits to the businesses today.

Thus, if you're looking to build or scale your website or application, understanding REST APIs is essential. 

In fact, most modern applications depend heavily on this technology for seamless communication between servers and clients. Whether you're a developer, business owner, or someone managing a digital project, grasping the basics of REST APIs can significantly boost your ability to innovate.

So if you're ready to take your website or application to the next level, read on—and discover how REST can be utilised in full potential for modern web technologies. Let's begin!

What is RESTful API?

REST stands for Representational State Transfer, and API stands for Application Programming Interface. In simpler terms, a REST API is a set of rules that developers follow when creating communication between a client (usually a web browser or app) and a server (the backend system). 

It enables applications to interact with each other by using standard HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE to request and manipulate data. REST APIs are stateless, meaning each request from a client to the server must include all the necessary information, allowing for scalable and efficient communication.

Thus, RESTful APIs allow your application to fetch, send, and manipulate data from the server in a structured, efficient, and scalable manner.

Key Characteristics of Rest

Rest APIs are widely used due to their simplicity, flexibility, and compatibility with various platforms and devices. Let us see the characteristics of Rest below:

• Statelessness

Each request from a client to a server must contain all the information the server needs to fulfil that request. This means no client-specific data is stored on the server between requests, making REST scalable and fast.

• Client-Server Separation

REST APIs allow the front-end (client) and back-end (server) to operate independently. They only communicate via standard HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE.

• Uniform Interface

A REST API ensures that each endpoint or resource has a predictable URL and method of interaction. For example, retrieving all users might be done by sending a GET request to /api/users, while creating a new user would be handled by a POST request to the same endpoint.

• Cacheable Responses

REST APIs allow caching of data to improve performance, meaning repetitive data requests don’t need to overload the server.

• Layered System

REST allows intermediaries like firewalls, gateways, or proxies to manage traffic between clients and servers for added security or scalability without affecting the core logic.

Benefits of RESTful API

RESTful APIs are a valuable tool for building modern, scalable, and flexible web applications. They offer several advantages that make them a popular choice for web development. Some of the major advantages of Rest are:

• Scalability 

RESTful APIs are stateless, meaning they do not store any client context on the server between requests. This allows them to handle a high volume of requests efficiently, making them ideal for scalable web applications.

• Flexibility and Independence

RESTful APIs provide a clear separation between the client and server. This allows different parts of an application (e.g., front-end and back-end) to evolve independently, providing flexibility in system design and development.

• Platform Agnostic

REST APIs can be used across different platforms and programming languages. They use standard HTTP methods, making them easily accessible by a wide variety of clients, such as mobile apps, web browsers, and IoT devices.

• Performance and Speed

Since REST APIs can utilise caching and are lightweight (often using formats like JSON or XML), they are more efficient in terms of bandwidth usage and load times, leading to improved performance for web and mobile applications.

• Modularity

RESTful services allow for modular application development, where different components can be updated or scaled independently. This makes it easier to maintain and extend applications over time.

• Security

REST APIs can easily be secured using widely adopted protocols such as HTTPS, OAuth, and token-based authentication, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality during communication. 

How does the Rest API work?

A REST API works by enabling communication between a client and a server through standardised HTTP methods, such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE. Here's how it works step-by-step:

1. Client Sends a Request

The client (a web browser, mobile app, or another system) makes an HTTP request to the server via a REST API. 

The request typically includes a URL endpoint (which represents a resource), the HTTP method (GET, POST, etc.), headers (such as authentication tokens), and, if needed, a body containing data.

2. Server Processes the Request

The server, which hosts the REST API, receives the request, processes it, and interacts with the appropriate resources (such as databases) to perform the desired action—whether it's retrieving, creating, updating, or deleting data, also referred to as CRUD.

3. Server Sends a Response

After processing the request, the server sends a response back to the client. This response typically includes a status code (such as 200 OK, 404 Not Found, or 500 Internal Server Error), headers, and a body containing the requested data, usually in a format like JSON or XML.

4. Client Processes the Response

The client receives the server's response and processes the data accordingly, often displaying it to the user or using it within the application.

The process is stateless, meaning each request from the client to the server is independent, and the server does not retain any client-specific data between requests. Thus, the Rest methods and request structure is:

This architecture enables scalability and flexibility in web services, allowing different components of an application to work independently while communicating through the REST API. 

Use Cases: Rest API examples

Various companies are leveraging REST APIs to drive innovation, streamline processes, and enhance user experiences across industries such as finance, logistics, real estate, and e-commerce. 

REST APIs enable seamless integrations, making it easier for businesses to connect their services with third-party systems and improve operational efficiency. 

Let us now see some use cases of Rest by some Australian giants and see how they use them to improve their services and enhance user experiences:

Xero – Accounting Software API

• Use Case: Cloud Accounting and Financial Management
• Xero, a popular cloud-based accounting platform in Australia, provides a REST API that allows businesses to automate their financial processes. The API enables the integration of accounting functions like invoicing, payroll, and expense tracking with third-party applications.
• Example: A retail business uses Xero’s API to automatically sync sales data from their point-of-sale (POS) system into Xero for real-time bookkeeping and financial reporting.

SEEK – Job Search API

• Use Case: Recruitment and Job Market
• SEEK, Australia’s leading job search platform, provides a REST API that allows companies and recruitment agencies to integrate SEEK’s job listings and candidate applications into their own systems. The API can also be used to submit job listings directly to SEEK.
• Example: A recruitment agency integrates SEEK’s API into their own platform to automatically post job ads on SEEK and receive applications from job seekers directly into their internal system.

Afterpay – Payment API

• Use Case: Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) Services
• Afterpay, a leading Australian BNPL provider, offers a REST API that allows merchants to integrate the Afterpay payment option into their checkout process. The API facilitates splitting payments into interest-free instalments.
• Example: A fashion e-commerce store integrates Afterpay’s API to offer customers flexible payment options, allowing them to split their purchases into smaller instalments while providing real-time payment confirmations.

Rest v/s Other Apps

While REST is incredibly popular, it’s not the only API architecture out there. Here’s how REST compares to other models:

• SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol): Unlike REST, SOAP is a more rigid protocol that requires strict messaging formats, making it more challenging to implement. REST, on the other hand, uses simple HTTP and JSON for data exchange, making it more accessible for developers.
• GraphQL: While REST follows a resource-based model (with predefined endpoints like /api/users), GraphQL allows clients to request only the data they need. However, REST is simpler and more widely adopted, making it easier to implement in most use cases.

Why Rest Apps are important for your business?

Now that you know about RESTful API, an important question arises, why should you use it? So the answer is, if you're building a web application or expanding your current digital infrastructure, integrating REST APIs can give you a competitive edge. 

By enabling real-time data exchange, automation, and seamless integration with third-party services, REST APIs allow your business to provide a smoother, faster, and more user-friendly experience.

Moreover, as businesses adopt more complex web app architectures—especially with the shift towards microservices and cloud computing—REST APIs become even more critical. They provide the backbone for modular, scalable web applications that can quickly adapt to changing business needs.

How partnering with a professional agency is beneficial for your custom Rest development project?

Have you decided to go for REST for your web development? You made a practical decision towards your business success. But, what to do next? Undoubtedly, you must start your hunt for a professional agency to take up the charge of building a custom Rest for your web. 

Partnering with a professional agency for your custom REST API development project offers a range of strategic and technical advantages under your specified  website development cost budget that can significantly enhance the success of your project. 

One of the primary benefits is the expertise and experience that an agency brings to the table. But there are so many Rest development agencies, so whom to trust? Well, look for a reputable agency that offers:

• tailored solutions
• efficiency
• quality assurance 
• robust security measures, and
• ongoing maintenance 

And here comes Enterprise Monkey with all these offerings and much more, including years of experience and expertise in the field of providing state-of-art solutions to clients across the nation. 

At Enterprise Monkey, we have extensive experience in building RESTful services for businesses across various industries. Whether you’re launching a new digital platform or optimising an existing one, our expert team can help you design, develop, and integrate robust APIs that scale with your business.

Conclusion

REST APIs are the backbone of modern web and mobile applications, offering scalable, flexible, and efficient solutions for communication between systems. By understanding how REST APIs work and the benefits they offer, you can unlock new possibilities for your digital projects. Partnering with an expert team at Enterprise Monkey can ensure you that your API integration is seamless, scalable, and customised to your business needs.

So, if you're ready to embark on a website development project that incorporates REST APIs, we are here as your expert website development agency to assist you every step of the way.

Don’t miss the opportunity to revolutionise your business with REST API integration!