How to create REST API in Python without Flask

Sue 204 Published: 11/02/2024

How to create REST API in Python without Flask

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Creating a REST (Representational State of Resource) API in Python doesn't necessarily require the Flask web framework. While Flask is a popular and straightforward choice, you can also use other frameworks like Django, Pyramid, or even build a RESTful API from scratch using Python's built-in libraries.

Here's a high-level overview of how to create a REST API in Python without Flask:

Choose a framework (or not): You can opt for a lightweight framework like Bottle or Sanic, which are designed specifically for building web applications. Alternatively, you can use the built-in HTTP server provided by Python, known as http.server. This approach is more suitable for simple REST APIs and requires less setup. Define your API endpoints: Identify the resources (e.g., users, products) and the actions you want to perform on them (e.g., read, create, update, delete). This will help you decide which HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) to use for each endpoint. Implement API endpoints: Use Python's http.server or a lightweight framework like Bottle/Sanic to define your API endpoints. For example: 
    from bottle import route, request, response

@route('/users', method='GET')


def get_users():

Fetch user data from database/file/whatever

users = [...]


return {'users': users}


@route('/users', method='POST')


def create_user(body):

Create a new user with the provided data (body)

user = {...}

Return a success response (e.g., 201 Created)

return response.HTTPCreated()

Repeat this process for each endpoint
Handle requests and responses: In your API endpoints, you'll need to handle incoming HTTP requests and send corresponding responses. This may involve parsing request bodies, validating data, or performing database operations. Test your API: Use a tool like curl (in Unix-based systems) or Postman (on any platform) to test your API endpoints by sending HTTP requests with various parameters and expecting specific responses.

Some key benefits of building a REST API without Flask include:

Simpler dependencies: You won't need to install the Flask framework, which can reduce the size of your project's dependency list. Flexibility: You can use a more lightweight or custom-made solution that suits your project's needs. Learning opportunity: Building a REST API from scratch helps you understand how web applications work and can improve your overall Python skills.

However, if your project requires advanced features like complex routing, caching, or middleware support, Flask (or another robust framework) might be a better choice. Ultimately, the best approach depends on your specific needs, experience, and goals.

Can we create a rest API using Python?

Creating a REST API using Python is definitely possible and can be done with the help of Flask, Django, or other Python web frameworks.

Let's start with Flask, which is a microframework that provides a lightweight way to build web applications.

Here's a simple example of how you might create a REST API using Flask:

from flask import Flask, jsonify

app = Flask(name)

A list of dictionaries representing some data

data = [


{'id': 1, 'name': 'John', 'age': 25},


{'id': 2, 'name': 'Jane', 'age': 30}


]


@app.route('/api/data', methods=['GET'])


def get_data():


return jsonify(data)


if name == 'main':


app.run(debug=True)

In this example, we're creating a Flask application that has one route: /api/data. When you send a GET request to this URL, the get_data function will be called, and it will return the data list as JSON.

To make your API more interesting, you might want to add some endpoints for adding or removing data. Here's how you could do that:

from flask import Flask, jsonify, request

app = Flask(name)


data = []


@app.route('/api/data', methods=['GET'])


def get_data():


return jsonify(data)


@app.route('/api/data', methods=['POST'])


def add_data():


new_data = request.get_json()


data.append(new_data)


return '', 201


if name == 'main':


app.run(debug=True)

In this updated version, we're also including an endpoint for adding data. When you send a POST request to the /api/data URL, the add_data function will be called, and it will add the new data to the data list.

Of course, these are just very basic examples. A real-world REST API would need to include things like error handling, validation, and possibly even authentication or authorization mechanisms.

As for Django, you can create a REST API by using Django's built-in support for APIs, which comes in the form of Django Rest Framework (DRF). Here's how you might create an endpoint for retrieving data:

from rest_framework import status

from rest_framework.response import Response


from rest_framework.views import APIView


class GetData(APIView):


def get(self, request):

Do some database query or other logic here

return Response([{'id': 1, 'name': 'John', 'age': 25}, {'id': 2, 'name': 'Jane', 'age': 30}], status=status.HTTP_200_OK)

And here's how you might create an endpoint for adding data:

from rest_framework import status

from rest_framework.response import Response


from rest_framework.views import APIView


class AddData(APIView):


def post(self, request):


new_data = request.data

Do some database query or other logic here

return Response(status=status.HTTP_201_CREATED)

Again, this is a very basic example and in real-world scenarios you would need to add more complexity like error handling, validation, authentication, etc.

Python has many other frameworks and libraries that can be used for creating REST APIs. The choice of which one to use often depends on the specific requirements of your project.

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