REST API
A REST API is a standardized way to build web APIs that uses HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) to perform operations on resources. It's the most common API architecture for web applications — when AI generates a backend for your vibe-coded app, it almost always creates REST endpoints.
Example
Your task management API follows REST conventions: GET /api/tasks returns all tasks, POST /api/tasks creates a new one, PUT /api/tasks/123 updates task 123, and DELETE /api/tasks/123 removes it. Predictable, consistent, and easy for AI to generate.
REST is the default language for building APIs. It maps naturally to CRUD operations, making it the pattern AI reaches for first when generating backend code.
REST in a Nutshell
REST uses HTTP methods to perform actions on resources:
| HTTP Method | CRUD Operation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| GET | Read | Fetch all users |
| POST | Create | Add a new user |
| PUT/PATCH | Update | Modify user profile |
| DELETE | Delete | Remove a user |
REST URL Patterns
GET /api/users → List all users
GET /api/users/123 → Get user 123
POST /api/users → Create a user
PUT /api/users/123 → Update user 123
DELETE /api/users/123 → Delete user 123
The URL identifies the resource, the HTTP method identifies the action.
REST in Next.js
Next.js makes REST APIs easy with API routes:
// app/api/users/route.ts
export async function GET() {
// Return all users
}
export async function POST(request) {
// Create a new user
}
Asking AI for REST APIs
Be specific about your resources:
- "Create REST API routes for managing blog posts with title, content, and author"
- "Add pagination to the GET /api/products endpoint"
- "Implement error handling for the user API routes"
AI excels at generating REST endpoints because the pattern is so well-established.
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