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REST APIs

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May 1, 2024 Updated June 2, 2025 26 minute read
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An Introduction to REST APIs: Understanding the Backbone of Modern Web Communication

Representational State Transfer, or REST, is an architectural style that defines a set of constraints for creating web services. A REST API, or RESTful API, is an application programming interface (API or web API) that conforms to these constraints, allowing different software applications to communicate with each other over the internet. Think of it as a standardized way for computer systems to request and share information. This approach has become incredibly popular due to its simplicity and compatibility with the existing infrastructure of the World Wide Web. At its core, REST promotes scalability, modularity, and ease of use, making it a go-to choice for developers building interconnected systems.

Path to REST APIs

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We've curated 24 courses to help you on your path to REST APIs. Use these to develop your skills, build background knowledge, and put what you learn to practice.
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Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in REST APIs.
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REST API Design Rulebook
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This handbook provides a practical guide to designing and developing RESTful APIs, covering topics such as resource modeling, versioning, and security.
REST API Design Rulebook
Paperback
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REST API Design Rulebook: Designing Consistent...
Kindle Edition
$
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Pro JSP 2
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Provides a systematic approach to designing RESTful APIs, covering topics such as resource representation, request and response semantics, and error handling.
Pro JSP 2 (Expert's Voice in Java)
Paperback
$$
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RESTful Web APIs
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Provides a comprehensive overview of RESTful web services, covering the core concepts, design principles, and best practices for creating scalable and maintainable APIs.
RESTful Web APIs: Services for a Changing World
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RESTful Web APIs: Services for a Changing World
Kindle Edition
$$
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Pragmatic Unit Testing in Java 8 with JUnit
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Explores the principles of RESTful web services from a pragmatic perspective, focusing on real-world considerations and best practices.
Pragmatic Unit Testing in Java 8 with JUnit
Kindle Edition
$$
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The Art of Software Security Assessment
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Explores the security challenges and best practices for developing secure RESTful APIs, covering topics such as authentication, authorization, and data protection.
The Art of Software Security Assessment
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The Art of Software Security Assessment
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Spring Microservices in Action
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Focuses on building RESTful APIs using Spring Boot, a popular Java framework for rapid application development.
Spring Microservices in Action
Kindle Edition
$$
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RESTful Web Services Cookbook
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This cookbook provides a collection of recipes for common tasks and challenges encountered in RESTful web services development.
RESTful Web Services Cookbook: Solutions for...
Paperback
$$
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Flask Web Development
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Focuses on building RESTful web services using Python and Flask, a popular microframework for web development in Python.
Flask Web Development
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Flask Web Development
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Express in Action
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Provides a comprehensive guide to building RESTful APIs using Node.js, a popular JavaScript runtime.
Express in Action
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Express in Action
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RESTful Java with JAX-RS 2.0
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Covers RESTful web services development in Java using JAX-RS 2.0, a popular Java API for creating RESTful web services.
RESTful Java with JAX-RS 2.0: Designing and...
Paperback
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RESTful Java with JAX-RS 2.0: Designing and...
Kindle Edition
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Relevant careers
Software Developer
API Developer
Cloud Engineer
Web Developer
Data Analyst
DevOps Engineer
Database Administrator
Information Security Analyst
System Administrator
Project Manager
Related topics
Cloud Computing
Data Structures
Algorithms
Software Development
Database Management
Computer Networks
Web Development
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
Cybersecurity
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Related courses
REST Assured Deep Dive from Andrejs Doronins RESTful Web Services with Node.js and Express from Jonathan Mills استخدام البيانات في iOS from Meta JavaScript REST APIs: The Big Picture from Nate Taylor ASP.NET Core 6 Web API: Best Practices from Steve Smith Getting Started with Software Development Using Cisco DevNet from Nick Russo iOS Networking with REST APIs from Harrison Ferrone REST APIs with Flask and Python in 2024 from Jose Salvatierra, Teclado by Jose Salvatierra Securing Spring Data REST APIs from Josh Cummings Advanced Google Cloud Compute Engine from Naveed Tauhid Building Real-Time REST APIs with Spring Boot - Blog App from Ramesh Fadatare (Java Guides) Beginning Llamafile for Local Large Language Models (LLMs) from Duke University Mastering REST APIs with FastAPI from Jose Salvatierra Mastering REST APIs with FastAPI from Packt - Course Instructors NestJS Zero to Hero - Modern TypeScript Back-end Development from Ariel Weinberger Introduction to Amazon API Gateway from AWS Modern Python Application Development in Practice! from Packt Publishing Automating Cisco DNA Center Operations Using APIs from Nick Russo PayPal Payments Integration for ASP.NET MVC from Ben Cull Consuming a REST API with Guzzle and PHP from Annapurna Siddhartha Automating Power BI Admin from Thomas LeBlanc Spring Framework 6: Beginner to Guru from John Thompson • 500,000+ Enrollments Worldwide FastAPI Fundamentals from Reindert-Jan Ekker Building a REST API in JavaScript with Express from Steve Buchanan
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