Hidden engine driving modern network ecosystems

The REST API is essential for modern web development and enables seamless communication between systems. Key principles include the correct HTTP method, meaningful endpoints, and correct status code to ensure scalability and interoperability. Best practices focus on OAuth 2.0 security, compatibility versioning, and clear error handling. Performance optimizations such as caching and paging can reduce latency, especially in microservices. Tools like Swagger and Postman can simplify documentation and testing, while API governance ensures long-term maintainability and cost-effectiveness.