REST is by far the most common type of API and IT'S the architectural style that you will work with the most. For that reason, this course prioritises REST APIs...but we'll look at other types too.

So let's start off by having a look at what REST is, how it works, and what the key components are.

REST (Representational State Transfer) is a simple, logical architecture widely used in web development. It operates on a client-server model, where clients request resources (like book lists) from a server.

Key components include clients, servers, resources (single entity or collection), representations (formatted content), and Resource Identifiers (URIs). REST uses HTTP methods like GET, POST, and PUT to specify actions.

Responses from the server include status codes, headers, and representations of resources (in formats like JSON or XML). REST is stateless, flexible, and can be implemented in any programming language, making it ideal for modern web and cloud applications.