# REST API

The **REST API** uses **RESTful** architecture to provide a simple, consistent interface. One of the main advantages of the **REST API** is that it doesn't require many tools to access your data. 

## REST resources and requests 

The **REST API** is based on the use of resources: data elements in MeltingSpot, such as lives, collections, search results, etc. Each resource is exposed via a **URL** and can be accessed by sending **HTTP requests** to the corresponding **URL**. Depending on the resource you wish to access, and how you construct an **HTTP request**, you can perform several types of operations: 

* Create resources 
* Update resources 
* Delete resources 
* Retrieve data 
* Search your resources

You can send **HTTP requests** using a variety of software tools. However, no matter how you submit your requests, the elements don't change. A typical request consists of these elements. 

* **URL:** this is the path to a resource in MeltingSpot. 
* **HTTP method:** this is the action you wish to perform on the resource in question
  * `GET`: retrieves data 
  * `POST`: to create data 
  * `PUT`: to modify data 
  * `DELETE`: deletes data 
* **Headers:** transmit parameters and customize HTTP request options. 
* **Body:** allows you to provide additional information, such as the first name of the spotMember you wish to add to a given collection.