Getting started with the RESTful API in cloud computing

Many people think of APIs as the best way for organizations to access services provided by cloud computing vendors. Cloud users use APIs as software interfaces to connect and use resources in a variety of ways, but the optimal or modern approach is to use the http://www.aliyun.com/zixun/aggregation/14172.html ">restful" protocol API. Read on to understand the concepts of the API and how they are used in the REST API and cloud computing services. This article provides several use cases to demonstrate how to use this technology in the real world.

Getting Started with APIs

APIs are software interfaces that optimize the development of applications or services for data processing. Developers often import or integrate APIs into existing code libraries through header files. However, as Web services are born, developers begin to create APIs that combine the ability to publish or use web-based services with Third-party system software.

As technology matures, technology companies and functional departments have begun to shift (or at least attempt to transfer) to a service-oriented architecture (SOA) model. This model allows the use of Object-oriented programming languages to develop WEB services that developers can call and reuse appropriately. The Google Maps API is an example of a web-based API that allows developers to properly invoke and use this service in their applications or Web sites.

The structure of the API

Developers need to follow best practices and standards to properly develop, publish, and use APIs. These best practices and standards depend on the basic structure of the programming language that the API addresses, including Java™, Microsoft®.net, C, JavaScript Object notation (JSON), or Extensible Markup Language ( XML). Figure 1 and Figure 2 give some examples of xml-based APIs.

Figure 1 is the PAID shipping API, which allows organizations to bundle this functionality into their E-commerce sites.

Figure 2 is the Instra API, which allows organizations to connect directly to their domain registrars for infrastructure purposes.

In addition to the programming languages used, the API also needs to consider the nature of the service itself. In other words, if the API was created for the client, not for server-side use, you need to follow different rules.

Whether the APIs are built for client purposes or for server-side purposes, developers face the fact that building services requires high performance and secure handling. Developers of the client API focus on the application's user interface, aesthetics, and appearance. The developer of the server-side API deals with the advanced functionality or services of the original application, taking into account functional utility. Regardless of where the API will be used, today's developers tend to use the RESTful API, which stems from the flexibility and versatility of these APIs.

REST API

The RESTful API follows the SOA model, so a web-based software architecture typically uses XML or JSON for integration purposes. This means that they are used by Internet browsers or WEB servers. As mentioned earlier, the RESTful API is a relatively new technology that requires developers to have comprehensive knowledge of the current WEB 2.0 technology. As a result, many organizations that lack the power to update their technology stacks may not be able to use this product. Organizations that may not currently pay attention to the RESTful API must not consider becoming cloud consumers. These organizations may include law firms, higher education institutions and non-profit groups. However, the RESTful API is already a fait accompli.

The main processing and storage resources have gradually become the principle of terminal equipment, in this sense, technology has been in a circle and then back to the original position, and the mainframe and dumb terminal is very similar to the prevailing period. This stems from globalization, increasingly remote or mobile employees, ubiquitous Internet connectivity, and the maturity of SOA and WEB 2.0 technologies such as the RESTful API. This trend is approaching the critical value as cloud computing, which is used for data processing tasks, joins the Corps through APIs.