A RESTful API (Representational State Transfer API) is a web service that follows REST architecture principles, allowing clients and servers to communicate using standard HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, DELETE. It is widely used for building scalable and stateless web applications.

It provides a standardized way to structure and expose data, making it easy for frontend applications, mobile apps, and third-party services to interact with the backend. It ensures scalability and flexibility by following stateless communication, meaning each request is independent and does not rely on previous interactions. RESTful APIs use JSON or XML for data exchange, making them lightweight and efficient. They support CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations, aligning with database management needs. With features like authentication, pagination, and caching, they enhance security and performance. RESTful APIs integrate seamlessly with frameworks like Express.js, Django REST Framework, Laravel API, and ASP.NET Web API, making them a preferred choice for modern web and mobile applications.