Which protocol is used in REST?

The primary protocol used in REST (Representational State Transfer) APIs is HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). RESTful APIs leverage the standard HTTP methods to perform operations on resources identified by URLs. Here's a breakdown of the key HTTP methods commonly used in REST APIs:

Common HTTP Methods in REST

1. GET: Retrieves data from the server. For example, GET /users retrieves a list of users.
2. POST: Sends data to the server to create a new resource. For example, POST /users creates a new user.
3. PUT: Updates an existing resource or creates it if it does not exist. For example, PUT /users/{id} updates the user with the specified ID.
4. PATCH: Partially updates an existing resource. For example, PATCH /users/{id} may update specific fields of a user.
5. DELETE: Removes a resource from the server. For example, DELETE /users/{id} deletes the user with the specified ID.

Additional Protocols

While HTTP is the main protocol, REST can also work over other protocols like:

• HTTPS: For secure communication over HTTP, providing encryption and security.
• WebSocket: Although not typical for REST, it can be used in some scenarios for real-time communication.

Conclusion

In summary, REST primarily relies on HTTP as its protocol, using various methods to manage data and resources. Its simplicity and effectiveness in leveraging existing web standards make it a popular choice for developing APIs.

For more information on REST and its use of HTTP, you can check out these sources:

• REST API Tutorial
• Red Hat: What is a REST API?