REST API Debugging
REST API debugging is the process of identifying, diagnosing, and fixing issues in RESTful APIs, which are web services that use HTTP methods to enable communication between client and server applications. It involves testing endpoints, analyzing HTTP requests and responses, and troubleshooting errors like 4xx/5xx status codes, incorrect data formats, or performance bottlenecks. This skill is essential for ensuring APIs function correctly, securely, and efficiently in production environments.
Developers should learn REST API debugging to build and maintain reliable web services, as APIs are foundational to modern applications like mobile apps, microservices, and cloud integrations. It is critical during development for validating endpoints, in testing for catching bugs early, and in production for resolving issues like authentication failures or slow response times. Mastering this reduces downtime and improves user experience in systems relying on API-driven architectures.