What Is an API? A Beginner's Guide to Web APIs and REST

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An API (Application Programming Interface) allows programmers to build software without writing every piece of code from scratch, similar to how a GUI lets users interact with a device without understanding its inner workings. Web-based APIs are the most commonly referenced type, enabling developers to perform complex operations through simple commands, such as Python's string methods. The REST architectural style, coined by Roy Fielding in his 2000 doctoral dissertation, defines six key constraints including Stateless, Cacheable, and Uniform Interface. These principles form the foundation of how most modern web APIs are designed and consumed. The article was originally written on March 21, 2020, and later migrated to the DEV Community archive.

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Coinbase-Backed x402 Protocol Lets AI Agents Pay for APIs Using Stablecoins

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