# How does REST API work?

**API** - Application Programming Interface.\
**REST API** - Representational State Transfer API.\
**SERVER**: the place has the resources.\
**Client call (API call) -> Server** - Data back over HTTP protocol.\
**API Key** - interface to identify its user, developer or calling program to a website, which is normally used to assist in tracking and controlling how the interface is being utilized.

#### Four API Call Types:

* Post: Create
* Get: Read
* Put: Update
* Delete: Delete

![Example: OpenFEC https://api.open.fec.gov/developers/ ](https://4055173823-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LgXtIWpHMikxGQHLU5T%2F-MVPdcYtRDkqn6msGai6%2F-MVPeOk98QXu6VhXTG1e%2Fapi1.jpg?alt=media\&token=2bea88b9-6cdb-4329-a14d-0e149b6e86f2)

#### Compose the API Call through https protocol:

/Resource/ \
{Required parameter} \
(Optional parameter) \
API Key

![Example: OpenFec https://api.open.fec.gov/developers/ ](https://4055173823-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LgXtIWpHMikxGQHLU5T%2F-MVPdcYtRDkqn6msGai6%2F-MVPeSZ1vp0gpXUvEEYu%2Fapi2.jpg?alt=media\&token=1b44e570-a7b9-478a-814f-d864df20df2a)