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REST API
concept · part of Software Development
A REST API (Representational State Transfer Application Programming Interface) is a set of architectural constraints for designing networked applications, enabling stateless communication between client and server over HTTP. It works by exposing resources (e.g., data or services) as URIs, which clients interact with using standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE). This matters because it provides a scalable, uniform interface that decouples client and server, allowing independent evolution and widespread adoption in web services. REST APIs are used in virtually all modern web and mobile applications, from social media platforms to cloud services, where they facilitate data exchange and integration. As a child of Software Development, it inherits principles of modular design and interoperability. Its children, Facebook–Cambridge Analytica and HTTP, represent a specific misuse case and the underlying protocol, respectively. Related concepts like Function (serverless compute) and Amazon Bedrock (AI service) often expose REST APIs for programmatic access, while Amazon Q Developer uses them for tool integration.
Inside REST API (2)
- Facebook–Cambridge Analytica — A data breach case study where API loopholes allowed unauthorized data collection and resale for political profiling.
- HTTP — HTTP is the foundational protocol for communication on the web, used by REST APIs and web services.
Connections
- Uses Function
- Used for Amazon Bedrock
- Uses Amazon Q Developer
- Related to Facebook–Cambridge Analytica
- Related to Function
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