Network Requests Documentation

Introduction to Network Requests

This document provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and implementing network requests within the MS platform. Network requests are fundamental to how our applications communicate with servers, retrieve data, and perform actions remotely. We will cover the core concepts, essential HTTP methods, and best practices for building robust and efficient network interactions.

Basics of Network Communication

At its heart, a network request involves a client (e.g., a web browser or a mobile application) sending a message to a server. The server then processes this message and sends back a response. This client-server model is the backbone of most modern web applications.

Key components of a network request include:

Understanding Network Requests

A network request is a message sent from a client to a server. It typically follows the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). Understanding the structure and components of these requests is crucial for developing networked applications.

A typical HTTP request consists of:

Example HTTP Request Snippet

POST /api/users HTTP/1.1
Host: api.example.com
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: Bearer your_auth_token

{
  "name": "Jane Doe",
  "email": "jane.doe@example.com"
}

Understanding Network Responses

A network response is the message sent back from the server to the client after processing a request. It contains information about the outcome of the request and any requested data.

A typical HTTP response consists of:

Example HTTP Response Snippet

HTTP/1.1 201 Created
Content-Type: application/json
Location: /api/users/456
Date: Mon, 23 May 2024 10:00:00 GMT

{
  "id": "456",
  "name": "Jane Doe",
  "email": "jane.doe@example.com"
}

HTTP Headers

HTTP headers are crucial for conveying metadata between the client and the server. They provide context for requests and responses, enabling features like content negotiation, authentication, and caching.

Common Request Headers:

Common Response Headers:

HTTP Methods

HTTP methods (also known as verbs) define the action to be performed on a resource. The most common methods are:

API Endpoints

Our platform exposes several RESTful API endpoints to facilitate programmatic access to data and functionality. Below is a detailed description of each endpoint.

GET /api/data

Retrieves a list of all available data entries.

Parameters:

This endpoint does not accept any query parameters.

Example Request:

GET /api/data HTTP/1.1
Host: api.example.com
Accept: application/json

Example Response (200 OK):

[
  {
    "id": "a1b2c3d4",
    "name": "Sample Item 1",
    "value": 100
  },
  {
    "id": "e5f6g7h8",
    "name": "Sample Item 2",
    "value": 250
  }
]

POST /api/items

Creates a new item.

Request Body:

The request body should be a JSON object representing the item to be created.

Field Type Description Required
name string The name of the item. Yes
value number The numerical value associated with the item. No

Example Request:

POST /api/items HTTP/1.1
Host: api.example.com
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "name": "New Gadget",
  "value": 99.99
}

Example Response (201 Created):

{
  "id": "i9j0k1l2",
  "name": "New Gadget",
  "value": 99.99
}

GET /api/items/:id

Retrieves a specific item by its unique ID.

URL Parameters:

Name Type Description
:id string The unique identifier of the item.

Example Request:

GET /api/items/i9j0k1l2 HTTP/1.1
Host: api.example.com

Example Response (200 OK):

{
  "id": "i9j0k1l2",
  "name": "New Gadget",
  "value": 99.99
}

Example Response (404 Not Found):

{
  "error": "Item not found"
}

PUT /api/items/:id

Updates an existing item by its unique ID. Replaces the entire resource.

URL Parameters:

Name Type Description
:id string The unique identifier of the item to update.

Request Body:

The request body should be a JSON object representing the updated item. All fields are required for a complete replacement.

Field Type Description Required
name string The updated name of the item. Yes
value number The updated numerical value. Yes

Example Request:

PUT /api/items/i9j0k1l2 HTTP/1.1
Host: api.example.com
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "name": "Updated Gadget",
  "value": 109.99
}

Example Response (200 OK):

{
  "id": "i9j0k1l2",
  "name": "Updated Gadget",
  "value": 109.99
}

DELETE /api/items/:id

Deletes a specific item by its unique ID.

URL Parameters:

Name Type Description
:id string The unique identifier of the item to delete.

Example Request:

DELETE /api/items/i9j0k1l2 HTTP/1.1
Host: api.example.com

Example Response (204 No Content):

No response body is returned on successful deletion.

Example Response (404 Not Found):

{
  "error": "Item not found"
}

Best Practices for Network Requests

To ensure your applications are performant, secure, and maintainable, follow these best practices when making network requests: