Comparison between REST and CRUD

What Is CRUD?​

Create, Read, Update, and Delete — or CRUD — are the four major functions used to interact with database applications. The acronym is popular among programmers, as it provides a quick reminder of what data manipulation functions are needed for an application to feel complete.

Many programming languages and protocols have their own equivalent of CRUD, often with slight variations in how the functions are named and what they do. For example, SQL — a popular language for interacting with databases — calls the four functions Insert, Select, Update, and Delete. With a little nudging, CRUD also maps to the major HTTP methods.

CRUD’s origins are in database records now CRUD now has applications in the HTTP protocol, DDS and SQL. CRUD can be thought of as a cycle rather than an architectural system.

What Is REST?​

On the other hand, Representational State Transfer — or REST — is a popular architectural style for software, especially web APIs. REST — is an architectural style for providing standards between computer systems. It’s defined by five design constraints that, when followed, produce an application with specific properties, including performance, simplicity, and reliability.

REST is a defining set of principles for developing an API. Uses HTTP protocols like GET, PUT, POST, and DELETE to link resources to actions within a client-server relationship. The principles of RESTful architectures serve to create an application as a lighter-weight alternative to SOAP. APIs may be web-based or designed for specific platforms such as Android or iOS, and a REST API makes it easy to implement other interfaces or applications over time which can turn an initial project from a single application into a platform.

Mapping CRUD to HTTP​

• POST: The client inserts or creates an object
• GET: The client wants to read an object
• PUT: The client wants to update an object
• DELETE: The client wants to delete an object
• PATCH: The Client updates the partial object

Similarities between REST and CRUD​

• REST is a robust API architecture and CRUD is a cycle for keeping records current and permanent.
• CRUD can be mapped to DDS, SQL, and HTTP protocols. The HTTP protocols are a link between resources in RESTful architecture which is a core piece of REST’s foundation.
• Mapping CRUD principles to REST means understanding that GET, PUT, POST, CREATE, READ, UPDATE, and DELETE have striking similarities because the former grouping applies the principles of the latter.

Difference between REST and CRUD​

• CRUD is a cycle meant for maintaining permanent records in a database setting. REST is an architectural system centered around resources and hypermedia, via HTTP protocols.
• CRUD principles are mapped to REST commands to comply with the goals of RESTful architecture.
• CRUD is an acronym for Create, Read, Update and Delete, the four fundamental operations of data storage.
• REST is an acronym for REpresentational State Transfer, an architectural style used in Application Programming Interfaces, or API. REST was designed to standardize HTTP protocol communication between clients and servers.
• Since REST and CRUD both describe manipulating data on a database, it’s easy to think they are the same, but a closer look at both CRUD and REST will reveal some key differences.