Question 1

What is an HTTP API request?

Accepted Answer

HTTP API request is a message sent to a server to perform an operation. Contains: method (GET/POST/PUT/DELETE), URL (endpoint), headers (metadata), body (data for POST/PUT). Server responds with status code (200, 404, 500) and data. Used for REST APIs, web services, mobile app backends.

Question 2

How do I make an API request with curl?

Accepted Answer

curl command: curl -X METHOD 'URL' -H 'Header: Value' -d 'body'. GET: curl 'https://api.example.com/users'. POST: curl -X POST 'https://api.example.com/users' -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{"name":"John"}'. Auth: -H 'Authorization: Bearer token'. curl is built into Linux/Mac, download for Windows.

Question 3

How do I make an API request with fetch?

Accepted Answer

fetch('URL', {method: 'GET', headers: {'Content-Type': 'application/json'}, body: JSON.stringify(data)}).then(res => res.json()).then(data => console.log(data)). For POST/PUT, include body. Headers object format. Async/await: const res = await fetch(...); const data = await res.json();. Browser native, no library needed.

Question 4

What is API authentication?

Accepted Answer

API auth methods: Bearer token (Authorization: Bearer token), Basic auth (Base64 encoded username:password), API key (X-API-Key: key header or query param), OAuth 2.0 (complex flow with access tokens), JWT (JSON Web Token with signature). Most APIs require auth to prevent unauthorized access.

Question 5

What headers should I include in API requests?

Accepted Answer

Common headers: Content-Type (application/json for JSON body), Accept (response format expected), Authorization (credentials), User-Agent (client identification), Cache-Control (caching behavior), X-API-Key (custom auth). GET requests don't need Content-Type. POST/PUT/PATCH need Content-Type matching body format.

API Request Builder

HTTP Methods