What is the WordPress REST API, and how can I use it to interact with WordPress data?

[Rex Maughan]

Hello everyone,
Can anyone share your knowledge about the WordPress REST API and its role in interacting with WordPress data?"

[wisly.k]

What is the WordPress REST API?

REST stands for Representational State Transfer, and API stands for Application Programming Interface.

The REST API is an architectural style for software that governs how web services interact with one another over the HyperText Transfer Protocol.

The WordPress REST API aims to offer an integrated API that themes, mobile applications, and more can use. WordPress can communicate with any application, and programmers can even use it to create their APIs.

Until recently, using the WordPress JSON REST API required installing a plugin. But as of Version 4.4, this WordPress API is now a part of the base program. As a result, using the REST API only requires understanding how to interact with it, which essentially involves including requests that utilize one of four alternative HTTP methods:

1. GET: You can retrieve data from the server using this method.
2. POST: lets you communicate with the relevant server by sending data there.
3. PUT: You can edit and update existing data using the PUT method.
4. DELETE: You can delete data using the DELETE method.

For example, Consider what occurs when you get to your WordPress login page. The server receives a GET request from your browser and handles it using its API. After the page has loaded, you enter your credentials and send them using a POST request. The PUT method updates your password, while the DELETE method deletes your account completely.


The JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) interface provided by the WordPress REST API enables applications to interact with your WordPress website(data). The WordPress Block Editor is built on this.

How to start using WordPress REST API?

Step - 1: Key concept of REST API

• Routes & endpoints —The URL you use to access an endpoint is known as a route, and the response you get from the server is known as an endpoint. /wp-json/ is an example of a route containing all interrelated endpoints.
• Requests — used to store and retrieve data for the current request.
• Responses — gives you the information you requested or an error message so you know what went wrong.
• Schema — lists all the features and input parameters the REST API can accept and return.
• Controller classes — the location where you handle the moving elements of a REST API.

Step - 2: Get to know about useful REST API endpoints

1. http://domain_name.com/wp-json/
2. By executing the CURL command, test the connection.
curl -X OPTIONS -i http://domain_name.com/wp-json/
3. After that, you can repeat this command using different endpoints. This time, we'll only use curl's GET command to get a JSON list of your WordPress posts.
curl -X GET -i http:/domain_name.com/wp-json/wp/v2/pages

Using the above command, you can see all existing WordPress pages.

Step - 3: REST API Authentication

1. Log in to your WordPress Dashboard, and Install the WordPress REST API Basic Auth plugin.
2. Navigate to Plugins > Add New, choose the Upload Plugin button, and select the plugin’s Zip file.
3. Active installed plugin.
4. After that, execute the following command:

curl -X GET --user usernameassword -i http://domain_name.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts?status=draft

Step - 4: Select your WordPress post with REST API

1. Listing out all your posts
curl -X GET -i http://domain_name.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts
2. Add the post ID to your query if you want to update a specific post.
curl -X GET -i http://domain_name.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/<ID>

Step - 5: Update WordPress post with REST API

1. You'll pass a custom JavaScript object variable (title) to a custom value (My Title) in the following example:
curl -X POST --user usernameassword http://domain_name.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/PostID -d '{"title":"My Title"}'
2. To verify new changes, you can reselect the post.
curl -X GET -i http://yourdomain.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/PostID