What are the benefits of using REST APIs?

Short answer: Platform-independent (works across web, mobile, IoT). Simple, flexible, and scalable. Uses existing HTTP infrastructure. Lightweight (JSON/XML). Supports caching for better performance.

Real-world example (ShopNest)

Creating an order is POST /api/orders → 201 with Location header. Fetching is GET /api/orders/{id} → 200 or 404.

Say this in the interview

1. Define — one clear sentence (the short answer above).
2. Example — relate it to a project like ShopNest or your real work.
3. Trade-off — when you would not use it.