The Restlet framework is a set of Java APIs and tools designed for building RESTful web services. It allows developers to create web applications following the principles of Representational State Transfer (REST). Restlet provides a simple and consistent way to design and implement RESTful APIs.
Here are some key features of the Restlet framework:
- Resource-Oriented Architecture: Restlet encourages a resource-oriented approach, where each resource is identified by a unique URI (Uniform Resource Identifier). Resources are manipulated using standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE).
- Extensibility: The framework is designed to be easily extensible, allowing developers to add their own features or extensions. This flexibility makes it suitable for various use cases.
- Server and Client Components: Restlet provides both server-side and client-side components. On the server side, it helps in building RESTful web services, while on the client side, it facilitates consuming those services.
- Uniform Interface: Restlet promotes a uniform and consistent interface for interacting with resources. This includes standardizing the use of HTTP methods, status codes, and representations.
- RESTful Routing: The framework supports the definition of routing rules that map URIs to specific resources and actions. This enables developers to create clean and organized URI patterns.
- Security: Restlet includes features for securing RESTful web services, supporting authentication and authorization mechanisms.