The WordPress REST API for Non-Developers

Over the last year, the WordPress REST API has been a frequent discussion point in the WordPress community. But what is REST? What can you do with it? And what does it mean for non-developers?

What is the WordPress REST API?

Micah Wood, WordPress developer and consultant, provides this definition:

The WordPress REST API is a standardized, language agnostic approach for manipulating data from an external service.

Understanding the acronyms:

• REST = REpresentational State Transfer
• API = Application Programming Interface
• JSON = JavaScript Object Notation

Examples of When to Use the WordPress REST API

• Instead of standard AJAX calls (faster, less work)
• Mobile apps
• Single page applications (SPAs)
• Synchronizing data across sites
• Integrating with third party services

Watch the Webinar: REST for the Rest of Us

Micah Wood recently presented an iThemes Training webinar with a general overview of the REST API. In this webinar, he explains why the WordPress REST API may be a good option for your WordPress projects, and provides some ideas about what can be done with it.

Webinar Slides

REST Resources Mentioned in the Webinar

• WordPress REST API Handbook
• Disable REST API plugin
• Information on the REST API security vulnerability
• REST API vs WP AJAX performance
• WordPress Hooks for the REST API
• Basic Auth plugin
• Oauth 1 plugin
• Oauth 2 plugin (requires HTTPS)
• PostMan

About Micah Wood

Micah is an Atlanta-based, full-stack developer committed to improving his craft continuously and sharing his insights with the development community. He is currently the dev team lead at Narwhal Digital and specializes in building websites and applications on the WordPress platform for enterprise clients.