Why REST APIs exist - Challenge Your Understanding

Challenge - 5 Problems

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

Purpose of REST APIs

Why do REST APIs exist in software development?

A To store large amounts of data locally on a user's device

B To compile source code into machine code

C To create graphical user interfaces for desktop applications

D To allow different software systems to communicate over the internet using a standard set of rules

💡 Hint

Think about how apps and websites talk to each other over the internet.

REST APIs exist to enable different software systems to communicate with each other over the internet using a common set of rules. This makes it easier to build and connect applications.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of a REST API call simulation

What is the output of this simulated REST API call in Python?

Rest API

def get_user():
    return {'id': 1, 'name': 'Alice'}

response = get_user()
print(response['name'])

A Alice

B 1

C {'id': 1, 'name': 'Alice'}

D KeyError

💡 Hint

Look at what key is accessed in the dictionary.

The function returns a dictionary with keys 'id' and 'name'. The code prints the value for the key 'name', which is 'Alice'.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Identify the error in REST API response handling

What error will this code produce when handling a REST API response?

Rest API

response = {'status': 404, 'message': 'Not Found'}
print(response['data'])

A ValueError

B TypeError

C KeyError

D No error, prints None

💡 Hint

Check if the key 'data' exists in the dictionary.

The dictionary does not have a key named 'data', so trying to access it causes a KeyError.

📝 Syntax

advanced

Syntax error in REST API request code

Which option contains a syntax error in this Python REST API request snippet?

Rest API

import requests
response = requests.get('https://api.example.com/data')
print(response.json())

A

import requests
response = requests.get('https://api.example.com/data')
print(response.json())

B

import requests
response = requests.get('https://api.example.com/data'
print(response.json())

C

import requests
response = requests.get('https://api.example.com/data')
print(response.json)

D

))(nosj.esnopser(tnirp
)'atad/moc.elpmaxe.ipa//:sptth'(teg.stseuqer = esnopser
stseuqer tropmi

💡 Hint

Look for missing or extra parentheses.

Option B is missing a closing parenthesis on the get() call, causing a SyntaxError.

🚀 Application

expert

Number of items in REST API JSON response

Given this JSON response from a REST API, how many user objects does it contain?

Rest API

response = {
  "users": [
    {"id": 1, "name": "Alice"},
    {"id": 2, "name": "Bob"},
    {"id": 3, "name": "Charlie"}
  ]
}

count = len(response['users'])
print(count)

A 3

B 1

C 2

D 0

💡 Hint

Count the number of dictionaries inside the 'users' list.

The 'users' key holds a list of 3 user dictionaries, so the count is 3.