REST
Representational State Transfer
A fundamental set of design rules that allows web systems to exchange information smoothly
In Simple Terms
REST is a set of rules for retrieving and updating data on web servers. It works by treating every piece of information on the internet as a "location" that can be identified and operated on with a standard set of commands. For example, when a smartphone app loads news articles or records a "like" on social media, those exchanges follow REST rules. It's a simple, universal standard — not tied to any specific platform — that anyone around the world can use.
Behind the Name
REST stands for "Representational State Transfer" — each word capturing the core idea of how data is described and passed between systems. The concept was introduced by an American researcher and has since become a widely adopted standard for how applications communicate over the internet.
Take a Closer Look!
REST is a set of architectural rules for web systems to exchange information efficiently. It's designed to make the most of how the internet already works, with one of its defining features being the use of URLs — the same addresses used for web pages — to identify where specific data lives. This means systems built in different programming languages can all access data through a common method.
REST is built on several principles that make systems easier to work with. Each piece of information gets a unique identifier, and interactions use a standard set of operations — such as retrieving or updating data. By following these rules, engineers can anticipate how an unfamiliar system behaves without reading its entire documentation, which speeds up development.
Another important property is that each exchange is self-contained — a concept known as being "stateless." Because the server doesn't need to remember previous interactions, the system scales well and stays stable even under heavy simultaneous use. Many services on the internet connect through a pattern called RESTful API, which puts these REST principles into practice.