REST API Examples
Working code examples using free public APIs. Copy, paste, and run - no API keys required.
HTTP Methods Quick Reference
| Method | Purpose | Example | Has Body |
|---|---|---|---|
GET | Retrieve data | Fetch user profile | No |
POST | Create new resource | Create new user | Yes |
PUT | Update entire resource | Update user profile | Yes |
PATCH | Partial update | Update user email only | Yes |
DELETE | Remove resource | Delete user account | No |
REST API Examples by Category
Each example includes working code in JavaScript (fetch), Python (requests), and cURL. All APIs listed below are free and do not require authentication for basic usage.
Open-Meteo Weather API
WeatherFree weather API with no API key required. Get current weather, forecasts, and historical data.
https://api.open-meteo.com/v1/forecast// Get current weather for Berlin
const response = await fetch(
'https://api.open-meteo.com/v1/forecast?latitude=52.52&longitude=13.41¤t_weather=true'
);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data.current_weather);
// { temperature: 15.3, windspeed: 12.5, weathercode: 3 }{
"current_weather": {
"temperature": 15.3,
"windspeed": 12.5,
"winddirection": 220,
"weathercode": 3,
"time": "2026-01-09T12:00"
}
}JSONPlaceholder
TestingFree fake REST API for testing and prototyping. Perfect for learning HTTP methods.
https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com// GET - Fetch all posts
const posts = await fetch('https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts')
.then(res => res.json());
// POST - Create a new post
const newPost = await fetch('https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts', {
method: 'POST',
headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
body: JSON.stringify({
title: 'My Post',
body: 'This is the content',
userId: 1
})
}).then(res => res.json());
// PUT - Update a post
const updated = await fetch('https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts/1', {
method: 'PUT',
headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
body: JSON.stringify({
id: 1,
title: 'Updated Title',
body: 'Updated content',
userId: 1
})
}).then(res => res.json());
// DELETE - Remove a post
await fetch('https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts/1', {
method: 'DELETE'
});{
"id": 101,
"title": "My Post",
"body": "This is the content",
"userId": 1
}CoinGecko API
CryptocurrencyFree cryptocurrency API for prices, market data, and coin information.
https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3// Get Bitcoin price in USD
const response = await fetch(
'https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3/simple/price?ids=bitcoin&vs_currencies=usd'
);
const data = await response.json();
console.log("Bitcoin: $" + data.bitcoin.usd);
// Get top 10 coins by market cap
const coins = await fetch(
'https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3/coins/markets?vs_currency=usd&order=market_cap_desc&per_page=10'
).then(res => res.json());{
"bitcoin": {
"usd": 42150
}
}Random User API
TestingGenerate random user data for testing. Get names, emails, addresses, and profile pictures.
https://randomuser.me/api// Get a random user
const response = await fetch('https://randomuser.me/api/');
const data = await response.json();
const user = data.results[0];
console.log(user.name.first + " " + user.name.last);
console.log(user.email);
// Get 5 US users
const usUsers = await fetch('https://randomuser.me/api/?results=5&nat=us')
.then(res => res.json());{
"results": [
{
"name": {
"first": "John",
"last": "Smith"
},
"email": "john.smith@example.com",
"picture": {
"large": "https://randomuser.me/api/portraits/men/1.jpg"
}
}
]
}IP-API Geolocation
GeolocationFree IP geolocation API. Get country, city, timezone, and ISP from any IP address.
http://ip-api.com/json// Get location from IP
const response = await fetch('http://ip-api.com/json/');
const data = await response.json();
console.log("Location: " + data.city + ", " + data.country);
// Lookup specific IP
const ipData = await fetch('http://ip-api.com/json/8.8.8.8')
.then(res => res.json());
console.log("Google DNS is in " + ipData.city);{
"status": "success",
"country": "United States",
"city": "Mountain View",
"lat": 37.3861,
"lon": -122.0839,
"isp": "Google LLC"
}PokeAPI
GamesFree Pokemon API with data on all Pokemon, moves, abilities, and more.
https://pokeapi.co/api/v2// Get Pikachu data
const response = await fetch('https://pokeapi.co/api/v2/pokemon/pikachu');
const pokemon = await response.json();
const types = pokemon.types.map(t => t.type.name).join(", ");
console.log(pokemon.name + ": " + types);
// pikachu: electric
// Get all Pokemon (paginated)
const allPokemon = await fetch('https://pokeapi.co/api/v2/pokemon?limit=20')
.then(res => res.json());{
"name": "pikachu",
"id": 25,
"types": [
{
"type": {
"name": "electric"
}
}
],
"stats": [
{
"base_stat": 35,
"stat": {
"name": "hp"
}
}
]
}Cat Facts API
AnimalsGet random cat facts. Simple API perfect for beginners.
https://catfact.ninja// Get a random cat fact
const response = await fetch('https://catfact.ninja/fact');
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data.fact);
// "Cats sleep 70% of their lives."{
"fact": "Cats sleep 70% of their lives.",
"length": 31
}Agify API
DataPredict age from a name using AI. Fun API for learning.
https://api.agify.io// Predict age from name
const response = await fetch('https://api.agify.io?name=michael');
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data.name + ": predicted age " + data.age);
// michael: predicted age 58{
"name": "michael",
"age": 58,
"count": 233482
}Error Handling Best Practices
Always handle errors when making API calls. Here is a robust pattern:
async function fetchApi(url) {
try {
const response = await fetch(url);
// Check if response is OK (status 200-299)
if (!response.ok) {
throw new Error("HTTP error! Status: " + response.status);
}
const data = await response.json();
return data;
} catch (error) {
if (error.name === 'TypeError') {
console.error('Network error - check your connection');
} else {
console.error('API error:', error.message);
}
throw error;
}
}
// Usage
try {
const data = await fetchApi('https://api.example.com/data');
console.log(data);
} catch (error) {
// Handle error in UI
}Frequently Asked Questions
What is a REST API example?
A REST API example is working code that demonstrates how to make HTTP requests (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) to a web service. REST APIs use standard HTTP methods to create, read, update, and delete data. For example, fetching weather data with fetch('https://api.open-meteo.com/v1/forecast?latitude=52.52&longitude=13.41') is a REST API call.
What are the 4 types of REST API calls?
The 4 main types of REST API calls are: GET (retrieve data), POST (create new data), PUT (update existing data), and DELETE (remove data). These correspond to CRUD operations: Create, Read, Update, Delete. GET requests fetch information, POST sends new data to the server, PUT modifies existing resources, and DELETE removes them.
What is an example of an API request?
An API request is a call to a web service endpoint. For example, in JavaScript: fetch('https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3/simple/price?ids=bitcoin&vs_currencies=usd'). This GET request asks CoinGecko's API for Bitcoin's current USD price. The response returns JSON data like {"bitcoin":{"usd":42000}}.
How do I test a REST API?
You can test REST APIs using: 1) cURL in the terminal (curl https://api.example.com/data), 2) Browser fetch in DevTools console, 3) Tools like Postman or Insomnia, 4) Code in JavaScript (fetch) or Python (requests library). Many public APIs like JSONPlaceholder are designed specifically for testing.
What are free public APIs I can use?
Popular free public APIs include: Open-Meteo (weather), CoinGecko (cryptocurrency), PokeAPI (Pokemon data), JSONPlaceholder (testing), Random User (fake user data), and Cat Facts. PublicAPIs.io lists over 1000 free APIs across categories like weather, finance, games, and more.
Explore More Free APIs
PublicAPIs.io has over 1,000 free public APIs across 50+ categories. Find the perfect API for your next project.
