REST
If you’re new to APIs (application programming interfaces), it won’t be long until you come across REST. Short for REpresentational State Transfer, REST is an architectural style for facilitating communication between computer systems across a network.
What is REST?
REST is an architectural style that describes how distributed applications should interact with one another. But to truly understand what REST is, you first need to understand two concepts:
- Resources, which are like the nouns of the web—they describe the “things” a client might want to pull from a server (e.g., the documents and files that make up a web page).
- HTTP verbs, which are the verbs of the web—they describe the “actions” you can take on a resource, such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE.
REST provides a set of architectural constraints that, when applied as a whole, emphasizes scalability of component interactions, generality of interfaces, independent deployment of components, and intermediary components to reduce interaction latency, enforce security, and encapsulate legacy systems.
REST API developers use the REST architectural style to develop APIs that facilitate communication between computer systems across a network. REST stands for REpresentational State Transfer.
How do you hire a REST API developer?
You can source REST API developers talent on Upwork by following these three steps:
- Write a project description. You’ll want to determine your scope of work and the skills and requirements you are looking for in a REST API developers.
- Post it on Upwork. Once you’ve written a project description, post it to Upwork. Simply follow the prompts to help you input the information you collected to scope out your project.
- Shortlist and interview REST API Developers. Once the proposals start coming in, create a shortlist of the professionals you want to interview.
Of these three steps, your project description is where you will determine your scope of work and the specific type of REST API developers you need to complete your project.
How much does it cost to hire a REST API developer?
Rates can vary due to many factors, including expertise and experience, location, and market conditions.
- An experienced REST API developers may command higher fees but also work faster, have more-specialized areas of expertise, and deliver higher-quality work.
- A contractor who is still in the process of building a client base may price their REST API developers services more competitively.
Which one is right for you will depend on the specifics of your project.
How do you write a REST API developer job post?
Your job post is your chance to describe your project scope, budget, and talent needs. Although you don’t need a full job description as you would when hiring an employee, aim to provide enough detail for a contractor to know if they’re the right fit for the project.
Job post title
Create a simple title that describes exactly what you’re looking for. The idea is to target the keywords that your ideal candidate is likely to type into a job search bar to find your project. Here are some sample REST API developers job post titles:
- Need a software engineer experienced in developing RESTful APIs
- Seeking REST API developer for WordPress website
- REST API developers needed to develop API software integrations
Project description
An effective REST API developer job post should include:
- Scope of work: From programming to cloud computing, list all the deliverables you’ll need.
- Project length: Your job post should indicate whether this is a smaller or larger project.
- Background: If you prefer experience with certain industries, software, or coding languages, mention this here.
- Budget: Set a budget and note your preference for hourly rates vs. fixed-price contracts.
REST API developer job responsibilities
Here are some examples of REST API developers job responsibilities:
- Develop RESTful, stateless, and layered applications that make client and server interoperable
- Manage repetitive data transfers with caching
- Create a uniform interface between components
REST API developer job requirements and qualifications
Be sure to include any requirements and qualifications you’re looking for in a REST API developers. Here are some examples:
- Proficiency in PHP, NodeJS, Python, Java, cURL, and/or C#
- Knowledge of data and servery security best practices
- Understanding of overall orchestration paradigms