Web API Interview Questions and Answers

Ques 6. Explain the concept of Pagination in Web APIs.

Pagination is the practice of dividing a large set of data into smaller, manageable parts (pages) to improve performance and user experience. It involves using query parameters like 'page' and 'pageSize' in API requests.

Example:

GET /users?page=1&pageSize=10

Ques 7. What is the role of OAuth in Web API security?

OAuth is an open standard for access delegation commonly used in the context of user authentication and authorization. It allows third-party applications to access resources on behalf of a user without exposing their credentials.

Ques 8. What is the purpose of the HEAD HTTP method?

The HEAD method is similar to GET but without the response body. It is used to retrieve metadata about a resource without transferring the actual data, which can be useful for checking resource availability or obtaining information about the server.

Example:

HEAD /users/1

Ques 9. Explain the difference between stateful and stateless communication in Web APIs.

Stateful communication involves the server remembering the state of the client, while stateless communication treats each request as an independent transaction. RESTful APIs are typically designed to be stateless, with each request containing all the information needed for processing.

Ques 10. What is HATEOAS, and how does it relate to RESTful Web APIs?

HATEOAS (Hypermedia As The Engine Of Application State) is a constraint in the REST architectural style where the response from a server provides links to related resources. It allows clients to navigate a web application dynamically.