REST: Difference between revisions
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==Concept== | ==Concept== | ||
REST was invented by Roy Fielding. REST provides guidance on how to implement web application interfaces to the web. Typically, one says a web application is constructed in a REST-like way or not. REST is often associated (or implemented) with HTTP, but it could be implemented with other technologies too. REST is platform and language independent. | REST was invented by Roy Fielding. REST provides guidance on how to implement web application interfaces to the web. Typically, one says a web application is constructed in a REST-like way or not. REST is often associated (or implemented) with HTTP, but it could be implemented with other technologies too. REST is platform and language independent. | ||
* Resource – A logical resource is any concept (car, dog, user, invoice…) which can be addressed and referenced using a global identifier. Typically, each resource is accessible with a URI when implementing REST over HTTP (for example: http://www.mysite.com/invoice/34657). | |||
* Server – A logical server is where resources are located, together with any corresponding data storage features. Such servers do not deal with end user interfaces (GUI). | |||
* Client – Logical clients make requests to logical servers to perform operations on their resources. For example, a client can request the state of the resource, create a resource, update a resource, delete a resource, etc… Clients do not possess resources or corresponding data storage features. However, they deal with end user interfaces (GUI). | |||
* Request and Responses – The interactions between client and servers is organized with requests from client to server, and responses to requests from server back to client. Requests can contain representations of the resource. | |||
* Representation – A representation is a document representing the current status of a resource. It can also be the new desired status when a client makes a request to update a resource, for example. | |||
Revision as of 15:22, 18 April 2014
Concept
REST was invented by Roy Fielding. REST provides guidance on how to implement web application interfaces to the web. Typically, one says a web application is constructed in a REST-like way or not. REST is often associated (or implemented) with HTTP, but it could be implemented with other technologies too. REST is platform and language independent.
- Resource – A logical resource is any concept (car, dog, user, invoice…) which can be addressed and referenced using a global identifier. Typically, each resource is accessible with a URI when implementing REST over HTTP (for example: http://www.mysite.com/invoice/34657).
- Server – A logical server is where resources are located, together with any corresponding data storage features. Such servers do not deal with end user interfaces (GUI).
- Client – Logical clients make requests to logical servers to perform operations on their resources. For example, a client can request the state of the resource, create a resource, update a resource, delete a resource, etc… Clients do not possess resources or corresponding data storage features. However, they deal with end user interfaces (GUI).
- Request and Responses – The interactions between client and servers is organized with requests from client to server, and responses to requests from server back to client. Requests can contain representations of the resource.
- Representation – A representation is a document representing the current status of a resource. It can also be the new desired status when a client makes a request to update a resource, for example.