Most RESTful APIs aren't really RESTful

Roy Fielding's original REST dissertation defines strict architectural constraints that most modern APIs claiming to be RESTful don't actually follow. True REST requires HATEOAS (Hypermedia as the Engine of Application State), where clients discover actions through embedded links rather than hardcoded URIs. The article explains Fielding's six rules for REST APIs, clarifies what constitutes a resource, and discusses why most developers opt for simpler RPC-style HTTP APIs instead of implementing full REST principles. The author advocates for pragmatic API design focused on usability rather than strict REST compliance.