REST API MCQ

Here we present a quiz consisting of 15+ multiple-choice questions (MCQs) to test your knowledge of REST API concepts. Each question is followed by the correct answer and a detailed explanation.

1. What does REST stand for?

a) Remote Elastic Server Technology
b) Representational State Transfer
c) Remote Entity State Transition
d) Runtime Environment Setup Tool

Answer:

b) Representational State Transfer

Explanation:

REST is an architectural style for distributed systems and stands for Representational State Transfer.

2. Which of these HTTP methods is typically used to retrieve a resource in a RESTful API?

a) POST
b) GET
c) PUT
d) DELETE

Answer:

b) GET

Explanation:

The HTTP GET method is used to retrieve (or read) a representation of a resource.

3. In REST, what does the term "stateless" mean?

a) The server retains client session data.
b) Every request from a client contains all the information needed to process the request.
c) Servers can store client data for later use.
d) None of the above.

Answer:

b) Every request from a client contains all the information needed to process the request.

Explanation:

In stateless communication, each pair of requests and responses is treated as an isolated transaction with no retained context.

4. What status code indicates that a resource has been successfully created?

a) 200 OK
b) 201 Created
c) 204 No Content
d) 400 Bad Request

Answer:

b) 201 Created

Explanation:

The HTTP 201 status code implies that the request was successful and resulted in the creation of a resource.

5. Which status code denotes that a request is valid, but the server cannot process it due to client-side issues?

a) 400 Bad Request
b) 403 Forbidden
c) 404 Not Found
d) 500 Internal Server Error

Answer:

a) 400 Bad Request

Explanation:

A 400 Bad Request status code indicates that the server cannot or will not process the request due to something perceived as a client error.

6. Which HTTP method is used to partially update the resource

a) PUT
b) MODIFY
c) PATCH
d) POST

Answer:

c) PATCH

Explanation:

The PATCH method is used to update the existing resource partially.

7. If you want to remove a resource via a RESTful API, which HTTP method would you employ?

a) REMOVE
b) DROP
c) DELETE
d) DISCARD

Answer:

c) DELETE

Explanation:

The DELETE method deletes the specified resource.

8. In REST, what does "Uniform Interface" imply?

a) All endpoints should look identical.
b) Interaction with resources is uniform, using standard HTTP methods.
c) APIs should have a unified return type.
d) RESTful services should have a similar structure.

Answer:

b) Interaction with resources is uniform, using standard HTTP methods.

Explanation:

The uniform interface simplifies and decouples the architecture, enabling each part to evolve independently.

9. In REST, which method is idempotent and safe?

a) DELETE
b) PUT
c) POST
d) GET

Answer:

d) GET

Explanation:

An idempotent HTTP method has the same effect no matter how many times it's repeated. 'Safe' methods don't change the server's state. GET doesn't change data and produces the same result when called multiple times.

10. Which format is typically used for transmitting data in a RESTful API?

a) CSV
b) XML
c) HTML
d) JSON

Answer:

d) JSON

Explanation:

While RESTful APIs can use different formats, JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is the most common due to its simplicity and lightweight nature.

11. Which of these is not a constraint of REST?

a) Stateless
b) Cacheable
c) SQL based
d) Client-Server Architecture

Answer:

c) SQL based

Explanation:

REST doesn't enforce any specific database or storage mechanism.

12. What format can RESTful APIs use for sending and fetching data?

a) Only XML
b) Only JSON
c) Both XML and JSON
d) Neither XML nor JSON

Answer:

c) Both XML and JSON

Explanation:

RESTful services can return data in various formats, with JSON and XML being the most popular.

13. Which architectural style does RESTful API follow?

a) PULL
b) SOAP
c) RPC
d) Client-Server

Answer:

d) Client-Server

Explanation:

REST is based on the Client-Server architectural style, where the server stores information and the client interfaces with it.

14. Which HTTP status code indicates that a resource was not found?

a) 404 Not Found
b) 500 Internal Server Error
c) 403 Forbidden
d) 302 Found

Answer:

a) 404 Not Found

Explanation:

A 404 status code is returned when the requested resource is not available or not found.

15. What is the primary purpose of a URI in a RESTful API?

a) Identify a resource
b) Encrypt data
c) Compress data for transmission
d) Decode received data

Answer:

a) Identify a resource

Explanation:

URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) is used to uniquely identify a specific resource.

16. Which HTTP status code indicates a redirection?

a) 100 Continue
b) 201 Created
c) 204 No Content
d) 302 Found

Answer:

d) 302 Found

Explanation:

A 302 status code indicates that the requested URL has been temporarily moved to another location.

17. What should be the primary concern when designing a RESTful API?

a) Speed
b) Scalability
c) Resources and their representation
d) Security

Answer:

c) Resources and their representation

Explanation:

While all options are essential, REST is centered around resources and how they're represented.

18. What does the concept of "statelessness" in REST mean?

a) The server doesn't store any information about the client's state.
b) The client and server can't communicate.
c) The server can't process multiple requests simultaneously.
d) The client maintains a continuous connection with the server.

Answer:

a) The server doesn't store any information about the client's state.

Explanation:

In REST, each request from a client contains all the information needed by the server to fulfill that request, making the server stateless.



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