WordPress has a lot of tools that can enhance the website’s performance. It has tool we don’t even know and terms we are yet to discover. One of such terms is WordPress REST API. The one liner about this term is that it works for making a website run smoother.
Just like any other WordPress tool or term, it has a way of working. In this article today we are going to explore the world on WordPress REST API. From knowing what it is to how it came in the industry and how to use everything we will be knowing here. The WordPress REST API is pretty useful for your website. That’s why its important!
The WordPress REST API is a latest technology in managing WordPress. It is a definite and easy process to make changes into WordPress website. From the moment REST API was introduced to the world, it’s sole purpose was to upgrade WordPress functioning. It initiated some enormous changes in WordPress codebase and the way it should be used.
So What Is WordPress REST API?
In simple words WordPress REST API is an user interface. It is used by the web developers around the world. It is mostly used for entering WordPress from free-standing WordPress installation. This user interface can be used for creating well-functioning upgraded website. But the best part is it can be used for making applications with JAVA script.
The WordPress REST stands for Representational State Transfer. And the API stands for Application Programming Interface. So you get a user interface for website and app both. The WordPress REST API works pretty good with the both and can add feathers in your success hat.
The WordPress REST API also works as a medium. It sends signals to another system and forms a clear interaction between two systems. This medium will protect your website from miscommunication within system. Without this medium it would become hard for you to send signals and understand each other’s needs.
The history of WordPress REST API is also very interesting. It was presented for the first time in December 2016. That time it has 4.7 version. Initially this user interface was launched as a mere plugin in WordPress. The basic motive of creating this user interface was to create multiple applications on WordPress. Then turn WordPress into a content management system for the applications.
For some time this interface was used by WordPress organizations. These WordPress organization’s JavaScript used the REST API. Eventually it was being used by Gutenberg editing interface. And it became an integral part of the year 2019.
WordPress REST API extends the limit of variety of applications WordPress used for. This user interface doesn’t discriminates between websites. It works effectively with complex websites and also with websites having single-page application. While using Google Doc you will realize the kind of work the WordPress REST API does with the websites and applications.
With the WordPress REST API the content on your website will be updated and refreshed easily. You wouldn’t have to reload the webpage every time for refreshing the website. This user interface uses JavaScript instead of PHP. This minor change can make your website function more swiftly. It can help the users to integrate a lot of elements without sending requests to the server.
But while using this WordPress REST API interface you must check few conditions. If all of the conditions check you already have REST.
Uniform URL- This is the main condition you need to check in your website. If you use GET you must know the importance of this condition. The URL among two systems has to be uniform. It should be easy to access from both the systems. The URL must be consistent in both the systems.
Server- You have to make sure that the client server application and server applications are separated from each other. This way they both will be able to make connections individually. The WordPress server-side changes and server side application should be able to access with a simple method.
Stateless- It is observed that the server doesn’t change the state while being on API. It doesn’t store any information. It doesn’t make any irrelevant request.
Cacheable- Caches have to be managed in a right way for the better functioning of website. The WordPress REST API program has a cacheable functionality. This resource makes your website speedy and high on web standard. It can also be done on the client side.
Layered system- This system is preferable for many reasons. One of the reasons is that you can store your data in the multiple layers of the system.
These points are must for you to check. If you have these points then your system already has WordPress REST. All of these points are important for API as well.
API is as you may know a protocol or medium that sets communication between client and server. It offers the simplest way of establishing and maintaining communication. You would find this option really cool if you haven’t used it yet. It also creates code which will be used for connecting different interfaces.
For example, if you have Google Maps on your website, you can use Google Map API to allow your WordPress website interface with Google Maps. Unlike REST, the API doesn’t need to work in separation. The reason behind this is that WordPress already works with multiple API’s. Some of them are plugins, codes and more. These API’s work in blend with WordPress theme, plugins that communicate with WordPress and then the whole thing works out.
With combination of REST and API forms WordPress REST API. These set of codes are combined so that it would become easy for other systems to interface with WordPress. It is coded so well that it ensures the both systems will understand each other clearly. With this system a third party website or application can access your website data, fetch or add data. So there are some implications that you need to keep in check.
Implications For Developers And Users!
For Users:-
The implications that WordPress users have to keep in check are pretty important. You need to give changes to the interface and the Gutenberg editor. Then you need to give changes to WordPress mobile app. After all of this your self-hosted admin will look like a WordPress screen.
For Developers:-
The web developers of the website also need to look out for some implications. With the WordPress REST API you can create a single page application. But it will look different on WordPress. This interface has an ability to communicate with other technologies and systems. It can develop to another level with WordPress having JavaScript. If you only work with PHP then you must learn JavaScript to manage this interface. You need to make some specific changes in it. This interface creates Gutenberg blocks than the Meta boxes in the editing post window.
How To Get And Manage WordPress REST API?
Now the only thing left to do is getting WordPress REST API for your website. It involves very easy process. Before accessing WordPress REST API you need to access WordPress site command line that’s WP-CLI. You can access this code in two ways. You can either access the code with your admin portal or directly use web adding code to site.
After using the WordPress command line you will access WordPress for work. Now remember you are accessing WordPress to get it started with WordPress REST API. This process in for Windows users. But if you use Mac or Linux then you need to access CLI. If you want to access a remote site then you have to use SSH on the server. If the system refuses you to access it this way then Google for the method to do so.
If you are running a local site then you need to add a simple precise directory structure from the command line. Then make sure you are proceeding with a local site than live one. This is to protect your live site from malfunctioning. If some mistake happens while doing the procedure then you will have your live site and won’t lose anything.
For reference look at these lines to access the site. Yoursite.com/wp/v2 . Here you can add any element in the code to access the site. These elements are known as the end-point.
After accessing the site by using these elements you need to go through authentication process. The process will be different as you are not logged into the site. If you are using WP-CLI to access your site then you need to install authentication plugin. If you are a web developer then we suggest you to install Basic Auth Plugin.
If you are working with a live site then you need to complete this step by using verifications like JWT authentication. It uses JSON web token to secure the process. Then you have to use the command line to access data and verification.
Remember the draft is not a public information. So you have to go through the verification process to access it.
After verifying your site you need to learn about some basic commands. To interact with one or more interfaces you need to use these commands.
GET– It is used for retrieving and using data or post.
POST– It is used to add a resource to the site.
PUT– It is used to update a resource which is already present on site.
DELETE– It is used for delete a resource from the server.
You need to use all of these commands very carefully. If you make one silly mistake, it can cost you your website.
To use the most used command which is GET, you have to enter this-
GET/wp/v2/posts/?Status=published
Here we haven’t used the website URL as you already have the access. So you will have to access the site first and then proceed with the commands. As GET is used for retrieving data now we are going to fetch latest post. For this just enter this-
GET/wp/v2/posts/? Per_page=1
Now, to add new post or data, you can use the POST command. For this you have to enter this-
POST/wp/v2/posts/
Like this you can create a new draft easily.
WordPress REST API works perfectly with the JavaScript. But if your user has PHP interface then its better not to use WordPress REST API. If the user wants to change to Java then it can create some security concerns for the website.
Now if you already have WordPress REST API and want to disable it, then just install Disable WP REST API plugin. It will log you out of this interface successfully.
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