Difference Between REST API and Normal API

#node #laravel #express #php

API (Application Programming Interface) is a generic term for any set of functions or methods that allow applications to communicate with each other.
It can be:
- Local or remote.
- Can use any protocol (HTTP, TCP, UDP, etc.).
Not restricted to web-based communication.
Examples:
- Library API: Python’s math.sqrt() function.
- Database API: MySQL Connector for interacting with a database.
- System API: Linux system calls like read() or write().
- Hardware API: DirectX for rendering graphics.

REST (Representational State Transfer) is a specific type of web API.
It follows the RESTful architecture and uses HTTP methods to interact with resources.
REST APIs:
- Use stateless communication (each request is independent).
- Use standard HTTP methods:
  - GET → Retrieve data.
  - POST → Create new data.
  - PUT/PATCH → Update existing data.
  - DELETE → Remove data.
- Use JSON or XML for data exchange.
Examples:
- GitHub REST API: To access GitHub data over HTTP.
- OpenWeather API: For weather data retrieval.
- Stripe API: For payment processing.

Feature	Normal API	REST API
Scope	Generic term for all APIs	Specific type of web API
Protocol	Uses any protocol (TCP, UDP, etc.)	Uses HTTP/HTTPS only
State management	Can be stateful or stateless	Stateless by design
Data format	Any format (binary, JSON, XML)	Mostly JSON or XML
Methods	Varies (no fixed methods)	Uses standard HTTP methods
Communication	Local or remote	Web-based (remote) communication
Example	File System API, Database API	GitHub, Stripe, AWS S3 REST API

✅ 🔥 Final Takeaway:

Normal API: A broad term covering all APIs (local, web, database, etc.).
REST API: A specific type of web API that uses HTTP and follows RESTful principles.
All REST APIs are APIs, but not all APIs are RESTful. 🚀

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