How are resources accessed with the REST API?

Accessing resources with the REST API is primarily done through URIs (Uniform Resource Identifiers). In the context of REST, each resource is identified by a unique URI, allowing clients to perform operations on those resources. When a client makes a request to a REST API, it specifies the URI of the resource they want to interact with. This design follows the principles of REST architecture, which emphasizes the use of standard HTTP methods (such as GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) to manipulate resources identified by their URIs.

While JSON payloads are commonly used to represent data sent to or received from a REST API, they are not the method by which resources are accessed; rather, they are often included in the body of the HTTP request. On the other hand, SQL queries are not applicable in REST API interactions, as REST does not use SQL for data retrieval but rather HTTP methods to manipulate resources. SOAP envelopes are specific to SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) APIs and are not relevant to REST, which operates differently and does not use envelopes for data transmission.

In summary, accessing resources in a REST API context centers around the use of URIs that uniquely identify those resources, making it the correct choice.