What is REST API?

Understanding REST API

REST APIs have become the dominant architecture for web services, powering everything from mobile apps to enterprise integrations. When you check weather on your phone, book a ride with Uber, or verify an address at checkout, you're interacting with REST APIs. These APIs provide standardized interfaces for applications to request and exchange data, enabling the interconnected digital ecosystem we rely on daily.

The REST architecture, defined by Roy Fielding in 2000, emphasizes simplicity and scalability through key principles. REST APIs are stateless - each request contains all necessary information, eliminating the need for servers to maintain session data. They use standard HTTP methods with clear semantics: GET retrieves data, POST creates new resources, PUT updates existing resources, and DELETE removes resources. This consistency makes APIs intuitive to learn and use.

REST APIs organize functionality into resources identified by URLs (endpoints). For example, Sthan.io's address verification API might use POST https://api.sthan.io/v1/verify/address to verify addresses. Each endpoint accepts specific data formats (typically JSON), processes the request, and returns structured responses with HTTP status codes indicating success (200), creation (201), errors (400, 404, 500), or other states. This predictable structure simplifies integration and troubleshooting.

Modern applications depend heavily on REST APIs for core functionality. E-commerce platforms integrate payment APIs (Stripe, PayPal), shipping APIs (UPS, FedEx), and address verification APIs. Mobile apps consume REST APIs for authentication, data synchronization, and feature delivery. Microservices architectures use REST APIs for inter-service communication. SaaS platforms expose REST APIs so customers can build custom integrations and workflows.

The business value of REST APIs is transformative. APIs enable rapid development by providing ready-made functionality - developers can integrate address verification, payment processing, or mapping in hours instead of months. APIs create new revenue streams through API-as-a-Service business models. They enable ecosystem growth by allowing partners and customers to extend platform capabilities. Companies with strong API strategies report 50-100% faster time-to-market for new features and 30-40% reduction in development costs through API reuse.

How REST API Communication Works

Key Benefits of REST APIs

Common Use Cases

REST API vs SOAP API

How to Integrate with Sthan.io REST API

Sthan.io provides a simple, well-documented REST API for address services. Here's how to integrate:

POST https://api.sthan.io/v1/verify/address
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY

{
  "street": "1600 Amphitheatre Parkway",
  "city": "Mountain View",
  "state": "CA",
  "zipCode": "94043"
}

const response = await fetch('https://api.sthan.io/v1/verify/address', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY'
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    street: '1600 Amphitheatre Parkway',
    city: 'Mountain View',
    state: 'CA',
    zipCode: '94043'
  })
});

const data = await response.json();
console.log(data.standardizedAddress);

{
  "status": "verified",
  "confidence": 100,
  "standardizedAddress": {
    "street": "1600 AMPHITHEATRE PKWY",
    "city": "MOUNTAIN VIEW",
    "state": "CA",
    "zipCode": "94043-1351"
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Terms