October 5th, 2026
For this blog, I chose to watch the video “What is a REST API?” from IBM Technology to learn more about an interesting topic that we have not covered in the course yet. The video starts with an introduction to REST APIs and explains how they allow different software applications and systems to communicate with each other. It also explains concepts like clients, servers, HTTP requests, and the different methods used to interact with them. I chose this topic because APIs are something I have heard about before, but I did not have a strong understanding of how they actually work or why they are important in software development.
One of the main reasons I selected this resource was because I wanted to explore something outside of the material we have covered so far. Since REST APIs are commonly used in software development, I thought learning the basics would give me a better understanding of how applications work together. The video was also a good choice because it explained the concepts in a way that was clear and easy to understand. As someone planning to work in software development, I wanted to understand a technology that I will likely need in future projects and professional settings.
A key takeaway from the video is that an API provides a way for different applications to communicate without needing to know how each other works. REST APIs use HTTP methods such as GET, PUT, POST, and DELETE to create, retrieve, update, or remove information. This was interesting, as it helped me understand what is going on behind the scenes when different applications exchange information. For example, an application can request information from a server and receive a response without having to manage the database or processes that produced that information.
Reflecting on what I learned, I realized that I had previously thought of applications as mostly separate programs. Learning about REST APIs showed me how connected software systems actually are. Many of the applications and websites I use every day depend on APIs to communicate with other services and exchange information. It made me realize that there is a lot more communication between different parts of an application than I thought.
I expect this knowledge to be useful in my future career because understanding how systems communicate is an important part of software development. Even though REST APIs have not yet been covered in our course, learning about them before the class topic comes up gives me a foundation that I can build on when we learn these concepts. It also made me want to learn more about how APIs are actually created and used in real applications.
Overall, this resource gave me a better understanding of REST APIs and their role in modern software development. It helped me see how different systems can work together and gave me knowledge that I can expect to apply to future coursework and professional projects.
Resource:
IBM Technology. “What is a REST API?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsMQRaeKNDk
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