Technology & AI
Fedor Zhilkin
Jun 24, 2026
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Updated on
Jun 24, 2026
When developers say "we have an API" — in 90% of cases, they mean a REST API. It's the most common way to organize communication between programs on the web. Most mobile applications, SaaS services, and tool integrations run on REST APIs.
In this article, we'll break down what a REST API is, what principles it's built on, what a request looks like, and how it differs from GraphQL and SOAP.
Defining a REST API: An Architectural Style for Web Services
REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style for building APIs. Not a protocol, not a standard — a set of principles an API follows to be considered RESTful. A REST API uses the HTTP protocol, operates on resources through standard methods, and returns data in JSON format.
The term REST was introduced by Roy Fielding in his doctoral dissertation in 2000, describing the principles that underpin the internet itself. Since then, REST has become the standard for both public and internal APIs.
REST API and Its Place Among Other API Types
A REST API is one of several approaches to building software interfaces. What sets it apart from other types is that it operates over HTTP, requires no special client, and is understood by any tool that can make web requests.
This is exactly why services that open their data to developers use REST APIs: weather services, maps, payment systems, AI tools, meeting recording services. If a product has a public API — it's almost certainly REST.
How a RESTful API Differs from "Just" a REST API
A RESTful API is an API that adheres to all REST principles. Strictly speaking, not every API that runs over HTTP qualifies as RESTful. Some services use HTTP but violate REST principles — for example, storing state between requests or not maintaining a consistent resource format. In practice, the terms REST API and RESTful API are used interchangeably.
The Six REST Principles: What Makes an API "RESTful"
Fielding described six constraints that an architecture must follow to be called REST. These principles explain why REST APIs are so predictable and integration-friendly.
Client-server architecture. The client (the application making the request) and the server (the one processing it) operate independently. The client doesn't need to know how the server is built — it simply makes a request and receives a response.
Statelessness. Every request to a REST API is self-contained. The server has no memory of previous requests — all necessary information (including the authorization key) is passed anew with each request.
Cacheability. REST API responses can be cached. If the data hasn't changed, the client receives a stored copy without querying the server again.
Uniform interface. All resources are accessible through consistent addresses (URLs) and methods. This makes REST APIs predictable — once you understand one endpoint's structure, you can understand the logic of the rest.
Layered system. Intermediate layers may exist between client and server — load balancers, cache servers, gateways. The client isn't aware of them.
Code on demand (optional). The server can transmit executable code to the client. This is the only optional REST principle.
In practice, developers focus primarily on the first four principles — they directly shape API architecture.
REST API HTTP Methods: GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE
The foundation of a REST API is HTTP methods. They define what action to perform on a resource. REST borrows HTTP methods originally designed for working with web documents and applies them to any kind of data.
Each resource in a REST API has an address (endpoint), and the request method tells the server what to do with it:
Method | Action | Example |
GET | Retrieve data |
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POST | Create a new record |
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PUT | Fully replace a record |
|
PATCH | Partially modify a record |
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DELETE | Remove a record |
|
Correct use of methods makes an API predictable. A developer seeing a REST API for the first time immediately understands: GET won't change data, DELETE will remove a record, POST will create a new one.
Structure of a REST API Request and Response
Every REST API request consists of several parts. Understanding this structure helps clarify how programs communicate with each other.
What a REST API Request Contains
A request to a REST API includes:
method (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)
URL with the resource address (e.g.,
https://api.mymeet.ai/v1/meetings)headers — request metadata, including the authorization key and content type
request body — data passed with POST and PUT requests (not needed for GET)
A GET request to retrieve a meeting transcript looks like this: the client calls the /meetings/123/transcript endpoint, passes an API key in the Authorization header, and receives a JSON response containing the text.
What a REST API Response Contains
A server response includes:
status code (200 — success, 404 — not found, 401 — unauthorized, 500 — server error)
response headers
response body with data in JSON format
The status code tells the program what happened without parsing the response body. 200 — all good, data is in the body. 401 — check the API key. 404 — this resource doesn't exist.
REST API vs. GraphQL and SOAP: Comparing the Approaches
REST is not the only way to build an API. It has competitors, and in certain situations they have the upper hand. The choice of approach depends on the task, the API's target audience, and performance requirements.
Parameter | REST | GraphQL | SOAP |
Learning curve | Low | Medium | High |
Data format | JSON | JSON | XML |
Request flexibility | Fixed endpoints | Flexible queries | Fixed |
Caching | Built-in (HTTP) | Requires configuration | Complex |
Where it's used | Most public APIs | Complex products (GitHub, Shopify) | Banking, enterprise |
Versioning | /v1/, /v2/ | Not required | Via WSDL |
REST wins on simplicity of adoption and integration — which is exactly why it became the standard for public APIs. GraphQL makes sense when clients need to flexibly specify which fields to retrieve. SOAP has survived in legacy systems and the financial sector, where strict typing is critical.
REST API Examples in Popular Services
REST APIs are used everywhere one program needs to retrieve data from another. A few everyday examples.
Authentication through a third-party service. When a site offers "Sign in with Google" — that's a call to the Google OAuth API over REST. The site sends a request, Google verifies the user and returns an access token.
Payments in online stores. The store doesn't process payments itself — it passes transaction data to a payment service's REST API (YooKassa, Stripe) and receives a status in return.
REST API in Business Tools and Automation
In a work context, REST APIs are used to build integrations between services without human involvement:
A CRM receives new customer data from website forms
A task tracker creates tickets based on data from other systems
An analytics platform consolidates data from multiple sources
A notification service sends messages triggered by product events
In none of these scenarios does a person need to manually copy data from one tool to another. The REST API handles it automatically.
Mymeet.ai REST API: Programmatic Access to Meeting Data
Mymeet.ai provides a REST API for users on paid plans. Through it, external systems gain programmatic access to meeting data — transcripts, summaries, participants, and tasks.
What's Available Through the mymeet.ai REST API
Through the mymeet.ai API, you can retrieve structured data from each meeting:
full transcript with speaker breakdown and timestamps
AI summary and brief meeting overview
participant list and duration
tasks and decisions extracted by AI
workspace metadata
The data is already processed and structured — no need to parse a raw audio file or unformatted text. A request to the transcript endpoint immediately returns a clean JSON with speaker-level breakdown.
REST API and MCP: Two Ways to Work with mymeet.ai Meeting Data
Direct REST API requests are for developers building integrations. API key in the request header, standard JSON in the response. Meeting data can be pushed to a CRM, task tracker, analytics platform — any system with HTTP support.
MCP protocol is for those who don't write code. mymeet.ai supports MCP (Model Context Protocol) — the standard for connecting AI agents to external data through APIs. ChatGPT, Claude, and Cursor connect to meeting data through ready-made integration cards in the Integrations section — no requests, no code required. Once connected, the AI agent answers questions about your meeting history in natural language.
✅ Generate your API key independently in Settings
✅ One key — one workspace, switch via the workspace selector
✅ Regenerating the key instantly invalidates the old one
✅ MCP works in desktop applications
✅ Available on Lite, Pro, and Business plans
Summary: When to Choose a REST API
REST API became the standard for good reason. It's built on HTTP — the protocol understood by every tool. It's predictable: GET reads, POST creates, PUT updates, DELETE removes. It requires no special client and integrates easily with any system.
If you're choosing an API for a new project or integration — REST API will be the right call in the vast majority of cases. GraphQL makes sense when you need the flexibility of complex queries. SOAP only when a legacy system or banking integration specifically requires it.
The natural next step after understanding REST APIs is the MCP protocol — which allows AI agents to use any service's REST API to answer questions in natural language.
Frequently Asked Questions About REST APIs
What is a REST API in plain language?
A REST API is a way to organize communication between programs over the internet. One program sends an HTTP request to an address (endpoint), another returns data in JSON format. REST is a set of principles that makes this exchange predictable and easy to work with.
How is a REST API different from a regular API?
A REST API is a specific type of API built according to REST principles: stateless, over HTTP, with a uniform interface. "API" is a broader term that covers any way programs interact. REST API is the most common variant, but not the only one.
What is an endpoint in a REST API?
An endpoint is a specific URL where a particular resource is accessible. For example, /meetings returns a list of meetings, /meetings/123 returns a specific meeting, and /meetings/123/transcript returns its transcript. The request method (GET, POST, etc.) specifies what action to perform on that resource.
How is a REST API different from GraphQL?
A REST API uses fixed endpoints, each returning a defined set of data. GraphQL lets the client specify exactly which fields it needs. REST is simpler to learn and integrate; GraphQL is more convenient with complex nested data. Most public APIs use REST.
What does "stateless" mean in a REST API?
Stateless means the server stores no information about previous requests. Each request contains everything needed for processing — including the authorization key. This makes REST APIs highly scalable: any server in a cluster can handle any request.
What is CRUD in the context of a REST API?
CRUD stands for four basic data operations: Create, Read, Update, Delete. In a REST API, these correspond to POST, GET, PUT/PATCH, and DELETE. Most REST APIs are built around exactly these four operations.
How does a REST API return errors?
Through HTTP status codes. 200 — success. 400 — bad request (client-side error). 401 — unauthorized (check your key). 404 — resource not found. 500 — server error. The response body typically contains an additional error description in JSON.
What is API versioning in REST?
Versioning allows you to update an API without breaking existing integrations. It's typically implemented through the URL: /v1/meetings and /v2/meetings are different versions of the same endpoint. Clients running on v1 continue working even after v2 is released with changes.
Do you need programming knowledge to use a REST API?
For direct REST API requests — yes, basic knowledge is required. But many services offer no-code ways to use APIs: through automation tools (Make, Zapier) or through the MCP protocol for AI agents (ChatGPT, Claude). In these cases, the API works without writing any code.
What is JSON in a REST API?
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is the standard data transfer format in REST APIs. It looks like structured text with key-value pairs. Every modern programming language understands it, which is why JSON became the universal format for REST APIs.
Fedor Zhilkin
Jun 24, 2026
