A REST (Representational State Transfer) API is a type of web architecture and a set of constraints usually applied to web services. The REST architecture was initially designed to fit the World Wide Web's HTTP protocol. RESTful APIs use HTTP requests to POST (create), PUT (update), GET (read), and DELETE data.
Now, let’s look at a better way to explain this for folks who are completely lost. The Govee Home App and Govee’s ecosystem of integrations all leverage the Govee REST API to communicate back and forth. So APIs are a common language that apps and services use to speak to each other. Take a look at the example below. When you go to a restaurant, you do not directly talk to the kitchen or chef but interact solely with the waiter. The waiter’s job is to take your order, communicate that to the kitchen, then, when it’s ready, bring you what you ordered.
In this example:
- The Waiter is the API
- The User is the app or service using and controlling Govee devices, e.g., Govee Home App
- The Kitchen is the backend service or, more precisely, Govee’s servers, or in the case you are using LAN API, it would be your Govee devices.
🤷♂️ Why should I care?
RESTful APIs are essential because they allow different applications to communicate with each other over the internet. For example, a mobile app can use a RESTful API to communicate with a server to get information or perform actions, such as posting a tweet or purchasing a product. Additionally, RESTful APIs allow for a more scalable and maintainable architecture, as the client and server are decoupled and can evolve independently.
To summarize, having a well-documented and robust set of APIs allows for more integrations and a holistic ecosystem for Govee users and the community.
🪜 Next Steps
This was the first post of many posts to come regarding APIs and integrations. Next time, I will show you got to get started with the Govee API if this is your first time doing this. We will start slowly, as many folks have never used APIs. Please don't worry; I'll explain everything step by step. If you ever have questions, please ask; I intend to ensure everyone gains a solid understanding of APIs so that we can all start contributing to building a stronger Govee Ecosystem.