What is the purpose of link relation in REST API?

What is the purpose of link relation in REST API?

Link objects are used to express structural relationships in the API. So for example, the top-level collections, singleton resources and sub-collections (including actions) are all referenced using link objects. Object links are used to express semantic relationships from the application data model.

How does HATEOAS relate to REST?

Hypermedia as the Engine of Application State (HATEOAS) is a constraint of the REST application architecture that distinguishes it from other network application architectures. With HATEOAS, a client interacts with a network application whose application servers provide information dynamically through hypermedia.

What is a HATEOAS link?

The term “hypermedia” refers to any content that contains links to other forms of media such as images, movies, and text. REST architectural style lets us use the hypermedia links in the response contents. It allows the client can dynamically navigate to the appropriate resources by traversing the hypermedia links.

How do you implement HATEOAS?

HATEOAS

1. Features.
2. Step1: Open the pom.
3. Step 2: Open UserResource.
4. Step 3: Paste the method and make the following changes:
5. withRel(String rel) is the method that creates the link built by the current builder instance with the given rel.
6. UserResource.java.
7. Step 4: Open the REST client Postman and send a GET request.

Is HATEOAS required?

It never has been, it’s a much higher level than that. But when you do need REST, and you do use REST, then HATEOAS is a necessity. It’s part of the package and a key to what makes it work at all.

Why is HATEOAS bad?

HATEOAS is just one of the aspects that adds difficulty to a REST architecture. People don’t do HATEOAS for all the reasons you suggest: it’s difficult. It adds complexity to both the server-side and the client (if you actually want to benefit from it). HOWEVER, billions of people experience the benefits of REST today.