REST Clients
REST clients are software tools or libraries used to interact with RESTful APIs by sending HTTP requests (e.g., GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) and handling responses. They simplify the process of testing, debugging, and integrating with web services by providing user-friendly interfaces or programmatic methods for constructing and executing API calls. Common examples include standalone applications like Postman and Insomnia, as well as libraries in programming languages such as Python's requests or JavaScript's fetch.
Developers should learn and use REST clients when building, testing, or consuming RESTful APIs, as they streamline workflows by offering features like request history, environment variables, and automated testing. They are essential for debugging API issues, documenting endpoints, and ensuring reliable integration in web and mobile applications, particularly in agile development and CI/CD pipelines.