What is a characteristic of the REST API?

Most widely used API for web services

REST (Representational State Transfer) API is a set of architectural principles that uses the HTTP protocol’s existing features to interact with resources. It is known for being fast, lightweight, and flexible. RESTful APIs use standard HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc., and can handle multiple types of calls, return different data formats, and even change structurally with the correct implementation of hypermedia. This has led to its widespread adoption for web services.

• Considered slow, complex, and rigid is not a characteristic of REST API. In fact, REST APIs are considered the opposite: they are generally viewed as faster and more flexible compared to other web service APIs like SOAP.
• Used for exchanging XML structured information over HTTP or SMTP more accurately describes SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol), which is a protocol for exchanging structured information in the implementation of web services. SOAP can use HTTP or SMTP for transport, and while REST APIs can also exchange XML data, they are not limited to XML as they can also use JSON, YAML, or other formats.
• Evolved into what became SOAP is not correct for REST API. REST and SOAP are distinct approaches to web services; REST is an architectural style, while SOAP is a protocol. SOAP predates REST and is more rigid in its operation and more tightly coupled to the XML format for message exchange. REST was proposed as a lighter-weight alternative.