In this article, we will understand the basics and capabilities of SharePoint REST API

Before we dive into Rest API let's talk about API.

API stands for Application Programming Interface. it is not necessary that API must be web-based. It can be web-based or local or operate within a single system or network. API is a set of rules and protocols which is used to communicate with different software applications.

Example. suppose that we have a meeting with one organization, and in that organization, many people know different languages according to their region, but there is one common language that all members who are present in the meeting know and that language is English, so English is a protocol, and it makes sense to deliver knowledge to all of them.

Now, let's take a technical example; we all use YouTube in daily life for educational purposes or entertainment purposes. Now, suppose that YouTube is a video player that is developed in Python, the comments section developed in React, and the like and dislikes functionality developed in Java, so what is the common thing that makes this functionality communicate to each other for data transfer? That is API which is common for all technologies or software applications to communicate to each other.

What is a REST API?

REST API: stands for Representational State Transfer Application Programming Interface.

REST API is a set of rules and conventions for building and interacting with web services. REST API uses standard HTTP/HTTPS protocol methods like get, put, post, delete, and patch. In REST API everything is considered as a resource. And those resources are identified as URLs like ‘http//api.exc.com/users/989’.

Now we all get updates for weather forecasts from news Applications or any weather department. If we want to develop our own weather forecast app, then we need to put our own satellite in space, and then analyze and fetch data for weather forecasts. But it is now possible, right ?! So there is REST API for weather forecasts, which is used commonly in all weather forecast apps and news and this REST API is shared by the weather department that APIs give updates about weather forecasts.

So in this weather forecast API, we use standard methods like,

What is SharePoint REST API?

As we discussed about REST API, SharePoint also provides REST API, which is used to interact with SharePoint data. It provides endpoints to perform CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations on SharePoint objects.

Now, we will discuss the key benefits of SharePoint REST API.

Basics Terminologies of SharePoint REST API

Structure of a SharePoint REST API Request

Now let's look into the structure of SharePoint REST API

Now we will discuss authentication and permission

Authentication & Permissions

This is a process of verifying user identity or application accessing the SharePoint REST API. SharePoint REST API supports various authentication methods and then grants permissions according to successful authorization. There are many methods but we will discuss commonly used methods such as,

Some Common Endpoints and Operations

Here we have the basic example and in what format it responds.

 {
    "id": {
        "results": [
            { "Title": "Task 1", "Id": 1 },
            { "Title": "Task 2", "Id": 2 }
        ]
    }
}

Example. Creating a List Item

Request

  • POST https://your-domain.sharepoint.com/_api/web/lists/getbytitle('Tasks')/items
  • Content-Type: application/json;odata=verbose
 {
    "__metadata": { 
        "type": "SP.Data.TasksListItem" 
    },
    "Title": "New Task"
}

Response

 {
    "d": {
        "Title": "New Task",
        "Id": 3
    }
}

Handling Errors

Error Response Format

{
  "error": {
    "code": "code",
    "message": {
      "lang": "language",
      "value": "error message"
    }
  }
}

Advanced Features

Batch Processing: this feature is great for dealing with multiple requests. It improves performance by reducing the number of HTTP requests needed.

Query Option

Use ‘ $filter ’, ‘ $select ’, ‘ $expand ’, and ‘ $orderby ’ to refine data retrieval.

Metadata: this is the additional data about the data you’re working with, so it helps us to how to use and manipulate it more effectively.

Tools and Resources

Now let's talk about tools and resources to use SharePoint REST API,

There is no specific tool to use SharePoint REST API or any tool that supports HTTP/HTTPS protocols. It is able to be used for SharePoint REST API. Such as,

Conclusion

In this article, we have seen that SharePoint REST API is a powerful tool for interaction with SharePoint data. We have seen error codes while working with APIs, and if there are any errors, we need to identify them. SharePoint REST API Provides a flexible, efficient, and standardized way to perform CRUD operations. Understanding the basics, best practices and advanced features can greatly enhance your ability to work with SharePoint.