What does RESTful web applications mean? [closed]

Question

A web service is a function that can be accessed by other programs over the web (Http). To clarify a bit, when you create a website in PHP that outputs HTML its target is the browser and by extension the human being reading the page in the browser. A web service is not targeted at humans but rather at other programs.

1. SOAP and REST are two ways of creating WebServices. Correct me if i am wrong?
2. What are other ways i can create a WebService?
3. What does it mean fully RESTful web Application?

Answer 1

1. Correct
2. The W3C defines a "Web service" as "a software system designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network".
3. A fully RESTful service is one that adheres to all or the architectural constraints as layed out in Roy Fielding's thesis, Architectural Styles and the Design of Network-based Software Architectures. It's a long read and there are many interpretations. A good start would be to familiarise yourself with the Richardson Maturity Model. NOTE: Most Web Services that claim to be RESTful are only at level 2 in that model.