What characterizes a RESTful API?

A RESTful API, or Representational State Transfer API, is distinguished by its use of stateless communication and adherence to standard HTTP methods. In RESTful architecture, each request from a client to a server must contain all the information the server needs to understand and fulfill the request. This stateless nature means that the server does not store any client context between requests, which enhances scalability and reduces server overhead.

Additionally, RESTful APIs leverage standard HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, and PATCH for operations on resources. This aligns with the concept of resources being identified by their URLs and manipulated using these well-defined methods. This standardization leads to a more predictable and uniform interface that facilitates easier development and integration.

In contrast to other options, RESTful APIs do not restrict data transfer methods to just XML; they can utilize various formats, including JSON, which has become the more common format due to its efficiency and ease of use. Moreover, RESTful APIs are not graphical user interfaces, which focus on user interaction rather than programmatic data exchange. Finally, while they can run on local servers, they are not limited to that; RESTful APIs can be deployed on any type of server, including cloud-based solutions.