With the increasing popularity of REST APIs in the tech industry, it is important for job seekers to be well-prepared for interviews related to this topic. In this article, we will discuss the top REST API interview questions and provide detailed answers to help you ace your interview in 2024.
1. What is a REST API?
Answer: REST (Representational State Transfer) API is a set of rules that developers follow when they create their API. It is a architectural style for designing networked applications. REST APIs use HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, DELETE to perform actions on resources.
2. What are the advantages of using REST API?
Answer: Some of the advantages of using REST API include:
– Easy to understand and implement
– Scalable and flexible
– Stateless communication
– Interoperability
– Caching mechanisms
– Security
3. What are the main components of a RESTful API?
Answer: The main components of a RESTful API include:
– Resources: Entities that are accessed through the API
– URIs: Uniform Resource Identifier that uniquely identifies a resource
– HTTP Methods: Actions that can be performed on resources (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)
– Representations: How resources are presented in different formats (JSON, XML)
4. What is the difference between POST and PUT in REST API?
Answer: POST is used to create a new resource, while PUT is used to update an existing resource. POST requests are not idempotent, meaning multiple identical requests can create multiple resources. PUT requests are idempotent, meaning multiple identical requests will have the same effect as a single request.
5. How do you handle errors in REST API?
Answer: Errors in REST API can be handled by returning appropriate HTTP status codes like 400 for bad request, 404 for not found, 500 for internal server error, etc. Additionally, developers can include error messages in the response body to provide more information about the error.
6. What is HATEOAS in REST API?
Answer: HATEOAS (Hypermedia as the Engine of Application State) is a constraint of the REST architectural style that allows clients to navigate the API by following hyperlinks in the response. It enables the API to evolve without breaking clients and promotes discoverability.
7. How do you secure a REST API?
Answer: REST API can be secured using various methods like:
– OAuth for authentication and authorization
– HTTPS for secure communication
– API keys and tokens for access control
– Rate limiting to prevent abuse
– Input validation to prevent injection attacks
8. What tools do you use to test REST API?
Answer: Some popular tools used to test REST API include Postman, SOAPUI, REST Assured, JMeter, and Fiddler. These tools help developers to send requests, validate responses, and automate testing processes.
In conclusion, being well-prepared for REST API interviews with these top questions and answers will increase your chances of landing a job in 2024. Make sure to practice coding, understand the concepts, and demonstrate your problem-solving skills during the interview to impress potential employers. Good luck!
