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The REST method is commonly applied to (APIs|api) (\"REST APIs\"), which allow (developers|developer) to access (data|data) from remote systems over the Internet.","alternateName":"Representational State Transfer","url":"https://techterms.com/definition/rest"} </script> </head> <body> <div id="full"> <header id="siteheader"> <div class="content"> <a href="#main" class="visuallyhidden">Skip to main content</a> <a href="/" class="logo"><img src="/svg/logo.svg" width="212" height="24" alt="TechTerms.com"></a> <div class="siteheader-middle"> <div class="searchwrapper collapsed"> <form id="search" class="search" action="/search" method="post"> <div class='autocomplete' role='combobox' aria-expanded='false' aria-owns='autocomplete-results'> <input type="text" id="term" name="term" placeholder="Search (e.g. rest, ASCII, cache)" aria-label="Search (e.g. psd, docx, exe, jpg, zip)" autocomplete="off" class='autocomplete-input term' aria-autocomplete='both' aria-controls='autocomplete-results'> <button id="searchsubmit" class="searchsubmit"></button> </div> <ul id='autocomplete-results' class='autocomplete-results hidden' aria-label='Search'> </ul> </form> </div> <a href="/random" class="headerbutton random" id="random"><img src="/svg/random.svg" alt="random" width="16" height="16"></a> <button id="searchtoggle"><img src="/svg/search-white.svg" alt="search" width="18" height="18"></button> </div> <div class="siteheader-right"> <button id="menuopen"><img src="/svg/menu.svg" alt="open menu" width="18" height="16"></button> <nav id="sitemenu" class="collapsed"> <button id="menuclose"><img src="/svg/close.svg" alt="close menu" width="14" height="14"></button> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/">Terms</a></li> <li><a href="/quiz/">Quizzes</a></li> <li><a href="/help/">Help Center</a></li> <li class="mobile"><a href="/random">Random Term</a></li> <li class="settings"><button id="settings"><img src="/svg/settings.svg" alt="settings" width="22" height="22"></button> <div class="settingsmenu"> <fieldset> <legend>Theme</legend> <input id="theme-default" value="default" type="radio" name="theme" checked> <label for="theme-default">Light</label> <input id="theme-dark" value="dark" type="radio" name="theme" > <label for="theme-dark">Dark</label> <input id="theme-hc" value="hc" type="radio" name="theme" > <label for="theme-hc">High Contrast</label> </fieldset> <div class="fontsizewrapper"><label for="fontsize">Font Size<input type="range" id="fontsize" name="fontsize" min="14" max="26" step="2" value="20"></label><span class="currentsize">20</span></div> <button id="resetsettings">Reset</button> </div> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </header> <main> <div class="adTopLB"> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1589388248615-0'> </div> </div> <div id="main" class="def"> <div id="left"> <div class="card hasheader"> <div class="cardheader"> <div class="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Home</a><svg viewBox="0 0 9 14" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m0 14 9-7-9-7z"/></svg><a href="/category/internet">Internet Terms</a><svg viewBox="0 0 9 14" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m0 14 9-7-9-7z"/></svg>REST Definition</div> </div> <article> <h1>REST</h1> <div class="adDefRect"> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1589302365809-0'> </div> </div> <p>Stands for "Representational State Transfer."</p> <p>REST is a defined set of standards for transferring resources over the <a href="/definition/www">web</a>. The REST method is commonly applied to <a href="/definition/api">APIs</a> ("REST APIs"), which allow <a href="/definition/developer">developers</a> to access <a href="/definition/data">data</a> from remote systems over the Internet.</p> <p>REST defines six architectural constraints:</p> <ol> <li><b><a href="/definition/client-server_model">Client-server model</a></b> – a server processes client requests, and clients can only access required data from the server</li> <li><b>Stateless</b> – requests are transient and no client data is stored on the server</li> <li><b>Cachable</b> – requests can be <a href="/definition/cache">cached</a> to improve performance</li> <li><b>Uniform interface</b> – access to data must be consistent for all users and systems</li> <li><b>Layered system support</b> – requests can be processed hierarchically and routed across multiple systems</li> <li><b>Code on demand (optional)</b> – servers can deliver <a href="/definition/executable_file">executable code</a> to client systems</li> </ol> <h3>REST vs. SOAP</h3> <p>REST is often contrasted with <a href="/definition/soap">SOAP</a>, another set of standards for transferring data over the Internet. However, REST is simply a design style, while SOAP is an actual <a href="/definition/protocol">protocol</a> with specific rules and commands. Both REST and SOAP APIs transmit data over <a href="/definition/http">HTTP</a>, but SOAP is limited to <a href="/definition/xml">XML</a> data, while REST is more flexible.</p> <p>Because SOAP is an official protocol, all messages sent via SOAP must use the same "envelope" format, with a <a href="/definition/header">header</a> and body. REST, which came after SOAP, has fewer constraints and is often considered a lightweight alternative to SOAP.</p> <p><b>NOTE:</b> APIs that conform to REST guidelines are technically called "RESTful APIs," but many developers refer to them as "REST APIs" instead.</p> <div class="adBotLB"> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1589236206757-0'> </div> </div> <div class="cardfooter"> <div class="upDate"><div class="author">Updated <span class="pdate">July 15, 2022</span> by <a href="/authors/per_christensson">Per C.</a></div></div><div id="citations"> <div class="tabs"> <div role="tablist" aria-label="citations"> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="apa" tabindex="-1">APA</button> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="mla" tabindex="-1">MLA</button> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="chicago" tabindex="-1">Chicago</button> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="html" tabindex="-1">HTML</button> <button role="tab" 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0 7.5 6 13.5 13.5 13.5s13.5-6 13.5-13.5c0-6.4 5.2-11.6 11.6-11.6h227c6.4 0 11.6 5.2 11.6 11.6v325.7c0 6.4-5.2 11.6-11.6 11.6-7.5 0-13.5 6-13.5 13.5s6 13.5 13.5 13.5c21.3 0 38.6-17.3 38.6-38.6v-325.7c0-21.3-17.3-38.6-38.6-38.6z" stroke-width="15"/></svg></button> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div id="defquiz" class="card"> <h2 class="heading logoheading"><img src="/img/main/quiz.png" alt="quiz" style="width:45px">Test Your Knowledge</h2> <div class="quizBox"> <div class="quizBody"> <p class="quizQuestion">3G cellular data transmission must provide a peak data transfer rate of at least what?</p> <div class="quizTable"> <div id="ansButtonA" class="answerButton activeButton" data-answer="Anum" data-date="2024-09-01"><span class="ansLetter">A</span> <div class="answerCell"><span id="answerA" class="quizAnswer">2 Mbps</span> <div class="answerBar"> <div id="quizBarA" class="quizBar"></div><span id="quizPercA" class="quizperc">0%</span> </div> </div> </div> <div id="ansButtonB" class="answerButton activeButton" data-answer="Bnum" data-date="2024-09-01"><span class="ansLetter">B</span> <div class="answerCell"><span id="answerB" class="quizAnswer">4 Mbps</span> <div class="answerBar"> <div id="quizBarB" class="quizBar"></div><span id="quizPercB" class="quizperc">0%</span> </div> </div> </div> <div id="ansButtonC" class="answerButton activeButton" data-answer="Cnum" data-date="2024-09-01"><span class="ansLetter">C</span> <div class="answerCell"><span id="answerC" class="quizAnswer">6 Mbps</span> <div class="answerBar"> <div id="quizBarC" class="quizBar"></div><span id="quizPercC" class="quizperc">0%</span> </div> </div> </div> <div id="ansButtonD" class="answerButton activeButton" data-answer="Dnum" data-date="2024-09-01"><span class="ansLetter">D</span> <div class="answerCell"><span id="answerD" class="quizAnswer">8 Mbps</span> <div class="answerBar"> <div id="quizBarD" class="quizBar"></div><span id="quizPercD" class="quizperc">0%</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="quizResult"><div class="qmsg"> <b class="quizPass">Correct!</b> <b class="quizFail">Incorrect!</b>   <span class="customMessage"></span>  View the <a href="/definition/3g">3G definition</a>.</div> <a href="/quiz/#morequizzes" class="quizNext btnprimary">More Quizzes →</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="right"> <div class="prevnext"> <a href="responsive_web_design"><span class="arrow">‹</span>  <span class="linktext">Responsive Web Design</span></a><span> | </span><a href="restore"><span class="linktext">Restore</span>  <span class="arrow">›</span></a></div> <div class="tf card"> <h2 class="heading">Tech Factor</h2> <a href="/help/tech_factor" class="info" title="What is the Tech Factor?">?</a> <a href="/techfactor/9"><span class="factor">9</span><span class="denom"> / 10</span></a></div> <div class="listBox card related"> <h2 class="heading">Related Terms</h2> <div class="rlists"> <ol> <li><a href="/definition/api">API</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/soap">SOAP</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/http">HTTP</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/json">JSON</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/xml">XML</a></li> </ol> <ol start="6"><li><a href="/definition/server">Server</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/client">Client</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/client-server_model">Client-Server Model</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/developer">Developer</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/www">WWW</a></li> </ol> </div> </div> <div class="adRightSky"> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1589233879778-0'> </div> </div> </div> <div class="techterms card"> <h2 class="heading">The Tech Terms Computer Dictionary</h2> <p>The definition of REST on this page is an original definition written by the <a href="/authors/">TechTerms.com team</a>. If you would like to reference this page or cite this definition, please use the green citation bar directly below the definition.</p> <p>Our goal to explain computer terminology in a way that is easy to understand. We strive for accuracy and simplicity with every definition we publish. If you have feedback about this definition or would like to suggest a new technical term, please <a href="/contact">contact us</a>.</p> <h2 class="heading">TechTerms Newsletter</h2> <p>Improve your technical knowledge with our daily or weekly newsletter! 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