RESTful API Patterns
TechIdea Experts
Author & Reviewer
Understand the core concepts of RESTful APIs and how to use GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE to manage data in your backend.
Learning Goals
Video Tutorial Coming Soon
Our expert team is currently recording the visual guide for RESTful API Patterns.
The Core Concept
**REST** (Representational State Transfer) is a set of rules for building APIs. When you build a REST API, you organize your URLs around **resources** (like `/users` or `/posts`) and use standard HTTP methods to perform actions on them (often called CRUD: Create, Read, Update, Delete).
- **GET**: Read data.
- **POST**: Create new data.
- **PUT/PATCH**: Update existing data.
- **DELETE**: Remove data.
### Best Practices
- **Use Plural Nouns:** URLs should be `/users`, not `/getUser` or `/user`.
- **Return Correct Status Codes:** Send a `201 Created` when making data, or a `404 Not Found` if a resource doesn't exist.
### Common Mistakes
- **Putting verbs in the URL:** Avoid routes like `/api/createPost`. Instead, send a POST request to `/api/posts`.
### Interview Questions 1. **What is the difference between PUT and PATCH?** *Answer:* PUT replaces the entire resource, while PATCH only updates the fields you specify.
Visual guide
Node.js concept flow
A simple original diagram to connect the lesson idea with real project flow.
Code & Implementation
const express = require('express');
const app = express();
app.use(express.json());
// Fake database
let users = [
{ id: 1, name: 'Alex' },
{ id: 2, name: 'Sarah' }
];
// GET: Read all users
app.get('/api/users', (req, res) => {
res.json(users);
});
// POST: Create a new user
app.post('/api/users', (req, res) => {
const newUser = {
id: users.length + 1,
name: req.body.name // Getting data from the request
};
users.push(newUser);
res.status(201).json(newUser); // Send 201 Created status
});
app.listen(3000, () => console.log('REST API running!'));Expected Output
(Sending POST request with { "name": "John" })
HTTP 201 Created
{
"id": 3,
"name": "John"
}Movie Database API
Hands-on practice task
The Challenge
Build an API with two routes: A GET route to '/api/movies' that returns an array of your favorite movies, and a POST route that lets you add a new movie to the array.
Helpful Hints
- •Remember to use req.body.title to get the movie title from the incoming POST request.
- •Set the status code to 201 when the movie is successfully added.
Quick Knowledge Check
Why do I need app.use(express.json())?
Continue Learning
Next steps after this lesson
Build an API with two routes: A GET route to '/api/movies' that returns an array of your favorite movies, and a POST route that lets you add a new movie to the array.
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- ✓ Content Review Date: 7/9/2026
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