What is REST API?

REST stands for Representational State Transfer and is an architectural style for designing networked applications. It is based on a client-server model where the client makes requests to the server to access or modify resources.

REST APIs are designed to be stateless, meaning that each request from the client to the server must contain all the information necessary for the server to understand and fulfill the request. This makes REST APIs scalable, as they can handle a large number of requests without the need to store client state on the server.

REST APIs use standard HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE to perform actions on resources. These methods are used to retrieve data from the server, create new resources, update existing resources, and delete resources respectively.

REST APIs typically use JSON or XML as the data format for transferring information between the client and server. JSON has become the preferred format due to its lightweight and easy-to-read nature.

When working with React and Node.js, understanding REST APIs is crucial as it allows developers to build and consume web services to interact with data from their applications. React often communicates with a server using REST APIs to fetch and update data, making it an important concept to grasp for developers working with React and Node.js.

In conclusion, REST APIs are a key component of modern web development and understanding how to design, consume, and interact with them is critical for building successful web applications.