Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of REST APIs?

• A. Supports statelessness
• B. Requires continuous connection
• C. Can return responses in JSON or XML
• D. Uses HTTP methods like GET and POST

Answer: (B)

The correct choice highlights a fundamental characteristic of REST APIs: they do not require a continuous connection. REST (Representational State Transfer) APIs are designed to operate over HTTP, which inherently supports a stateless communication model. This means that each request from a client to a server must contain all the information needed to understand and process the request, independent of any previous requests.

In contrast to protocols that maintain a continuous connection (like WebSockets), RESTful APIs can handle requests independently, allowing clients to connect and disconnect freely based on their needs. This stateless nature enhances scalability and performance, as servers do not need to manage active sessions for each client.

The other aspects mentioned in the options reflect the characteristics of REST APIs accurately. They support statelessness, return data in various formats such as JSON or XML, and utilize standard HTTP methods like GET and POST for performing operations. Understanding these principles is crucial for working with REST APIs effectively.