300-435 Question 13
Select 3A network engineer is designing an automation solution to interact with Cisco DNA Center APIs for retrieving device inventory data and applying configurations. The engineer must choose between REST and RPC API styles based on their characteristics. Which of the following statements about REST and RPC API styles can help the engineer decide?
- A
REST APIs are stateless and use standard HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE.
- B
RPC APIs focus on procedure calls and are often more tightly coupled to the underlying implementation.
- C
REST APIs require a predefined schema for all communication, making them less flexible than RPC.
- D
RPC APIs typically use JSON for communication, making them inherently more human-readable than REST.
- E
REST APIs are designed for resource-based interactions, while RPC is designed for action-based interactions.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answers: A, B, E
Explanation
REST and RPC APIs have distinct characteristics that make them suitable for different scenarios. REST is stateless, resource-oriented, and uses standard HTTP methods, making it ideal for web-based systems. In contrast, RPC focuses on executing specific actions or procedures and often involves tighter coupling with the underlying implementation. Understanding these differences allows engineers to select the appropriate API style for their needs.
- A. Correct.
REST APIs are stateless and rely on standard HTTP methods, making them widely used for web-based applications.
- B. Correct.
RPC APIs are tightly coupled to the implementation and focus on invoking procedures or methods, which is a defining characteristic.
- C. Incorrect.
REST APIs do not require a predefined schema for communication; they are more flexible in terms of data format compared to RPC.
- D. Incorrect.
While RPC can use JSON, it is not inherently more human-readable than REST. Both REST and RPC can support JSON, but this is not a defining factor.
- E. Correct.
REST focuses on interacting with resources (e.g., retrieving or modifying data), while RPC emphasizes performing specific actions or operations.