Welcome to the documentation for the Hypertext Application Language (HAL) library!
What is HAL?
The Hypertext Application Language (HAL) is a simple media type that allows linking between resources in a RESTful API. It provides a standard way to express and discover the relationships between resources, enabling clients to navigate a RESTful API and discover available actions.
Features
- Enables linking between resources
- Standardizes resource relationships
- Facilitates API discoverability
- Simplifies navigation of RESTful APIs
Getting Started
To start using HAL in your API, follow the steps below:
- Install the HAL library to your project by including the appropriate dependency or downloading the source code.
- Refer to the documentation for the specific HAL library version you are using for detailed usage instructions.
- Integrate HAL into your RESTful API by implementing the relevant concepts and standards.
- Ensure that your responses adhere to the HAL media type and include the required links for resource navigation.
Examples
Below are some examples illustrating the usage of HAL:
Example 1:
{
"_links": {
"self": {
"href": "https://api.example.com/users/123"
},
"friend": {
"href": "https://api.example.com/users/456"
}
},
"name": "John Doe"
}
Example 2:
{
"_links": {
"self": {
"href": "https://api.example.com/posts/789"
},
"author": {
"href": "https://api.example.com/users/123"
},
"comments": {
"href": "https://api.example.com/posts/789/comments"
}
},
"title": "Sample Post",
"content": "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet...",
"created_at": "2022-01-01T12:00:00Z"
}
Resources
Here are some useful resources to learn more about HAL:
We hope this documentation helps you understand and utilize the Hypertext Application Language (HAL) effectively in your RESTful API implementation. If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out to our support team.