REST API
A REST API is an HTTP-based interface where systems exchange data as resources using methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE.
What is a REST API?
A REST API is a web interface built on the REST (Representational State Transfer) architectural style, where two systems exchange data over HTTP. Each resource — such as a product or an order — has its own URL, and you work with it through the standard methods GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE. Responses are almost always delivered as JSON. REST is stateless: every request contains everything the server needs, and no session is stored between calls.
Why does a REST API matter?
A REST API is the glue between your store and the systems around it: ERP, warehouse, PIM, email platforms, and accounting. Instead of manual export and import, data can sync automatically so inventory, prices, and orders stay consistent across systems. A well-designed integration cuts errors and manual work — while a poorly structured API flow can hit rate limits or create data conflicts.
Common use cases
- Syncing inventory and prices between Shopify and an ERP or warehouse system.
- Automatically creating or updating products from a product feed.
- Exporting orders to accounting or a shipping system.
- Looking up customer or order data from an external app or dashboard.
- Receiving events via webhooks so you avoid constantly polling the API.
Shopify perspective
Shopify has made the GraphQL Admin API its primary API, and the REST Admin API is now in maintenance mode — since April 1, 2025 all new public apps must be built on GraphQL. So choose GraphQL for new integrations. Regardless of protocol, calls are rate-limited with a leaky bucket (a 40-request bucket on standard plans), so build your code to respect the limits and use webhooks instead of frequent polling.